Iraqi Caretaker Government Takes Temporary Authority

Iraq is divided ethnically among majority Shiite Muslims, who are concentrated in the south; once-dominant Sunni Muslims, concentrated in the regions north and west of Baghdad; and Kurds, who have their own semi-autonomous region in the far north. Rivalries among the groups are longstanding and intense, as are rivalries within each group.

Yawar, a 45-year-old engineer with a master's degree from George Washington University, is a Sunni Muslim who lived in exile. He is a leader of one of Iraq's largest tribes, the Shamar, whose members include many Shiites as well as Sunnis. Because of that he has had the strong backing of the council's Shiite majority. He also enjoys the support of the council's Kurdish members.

Allawi, is the leader of the Iraqi National Accord, which worked in exile with the CIA for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. He is a Shiite.

One of two vice-presidents, Ibrahim Jaafari, is the leader of the Shiite Dawa Islamic Party.

The other vice president, Rowsch Shaways, is a Kurd from one of two rival Kurdish political parties.

Barham Saleh, the deputy prime minister for national security, represents the other Kurdish party.

The Bush administration had said it would allow U.N. envoy Brahimi to select the interim government, a task he has been performing in consultation with a wide range of Iraqi organizations and leaders. But council members insisted that Brahimi's role was subordinated by U.S. officials who want a new government that is closely allied with Washington.

Brahimi, in turn, had said he wanted to form an interim government made up largely of politically independent technocrats who would act as caretakers until national elections are held early next year, effectively minimizing the role of politicians from the council. He had not intended to give the council veto power, on the grounds that it lacks broad legitimacy in Iraq.

Tuesday, Brahimi issued the following statement: "Consultations for the formation of the Iraqi Interim Government have been going on without interruption throughout the four weeks which have elapsed since my United Nations colleagues and I returned to Baghdad.

"These consultations have involved the Governing Council, the Coalition Provisional Authority, and a very large number of representatives of the Iraqi public, including political parties, professional associations, trade unions, tribal and religious leaders, academics and intellectuals, women's and youth organizations, and others.

"I am pleased to announce that, on Sunday, I handed over to His Excellency Prime Minister Designate Ayad Allawi my recommendations concerning the composition of his Cabinet."

Fred Barbash reported from Washington.