Iraq Shi'ites break ranks, urge PM to quit

Leaders of Iraq's ruling Shi'ite Alliance bloc called publicly for the first time yesterday for Ibrahim al-Jaafari to step down as prime minister to break weeks of deadlock over a national unity government.

The move declared by one leader and echoed, anonymously, by others sparked consternation in the Alliance ranks as parties held their latest round of talks on a grand coalition with Kurds and Sunnis. They remain adamant in their rejection of Jaafari. Those talks, which officials hope can ultimately avert civil war, ended yesterday's session with a significant compromise deal on how security issues will be handled once a cabinet is formed.

A US diplomat reiterated it was Washington's "analysis" that Jaafari had not scored well on two key criteria for prime minister - his ability to unite Iraqis and his competence as a leader.

But, he told reporters: "We have no preference." He denied comments from rival Shi'ite leaders that President George W. Bush had directly asked them to drop Jaafari. US and Iraqi officials say a unity government, more than three months after December's election, is vital to averting all-out war after five weeks of spiralling sectarian bloodshed.