Iraqi Governing Council chief Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer walks inside the
Green Zone in Baghdad, in this file photo dated May 18, 2004. (China Daily/Reuters)

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   BAGHDAD, June 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) Chairman for May Ghazi Yawar was appointed on Tuesday as the new Iraqi president after Adnan Pachachi turned down the post, an IGC member said.

   Nassir al-Chaderchi said that Yawar had been officially announced as the president and received congratulations from all council members.

   The interim council had originally been scheduled to nominate the new president on Monday, but the announcement was delayed due to wrangles over two candidates, namely 81-year-old Pachachi and Yawar.

   Pachachi was strongly favored by the United States and UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, while Ghazi gained much backing fromthe IGC itself.

   Yawar, 45, was head of the powerful Shamar tribe which groups both Sunnis and Shiites.

   Born in the northern city of Mosul, Yawar lived for 15 years in Saudi Arabia where he worked in business, and returned to Iraq in June 2003.

   Ayad Alawi, a Shiite former Iraqi intelligence officer, was chosen prime minister Friday and was entrusted with the duty of forming a new cabinet.

   The interim government will take over power from the US-led coalition authority and rule Iraq until nationwide elections in January 2005.  Enditem