Iraq president brings forward parliament to March 16

BAGHDAD, Mar 12 (Reuters) Iraq's president today said he was bringing forward the first session of parliament to March 16 from March 19, the date of a Shi'ite Muslim religious festival.

''The presidency council took this decision after consulting all parties involved, in order to give the security forces time to ... prepare for the (Shi'ite ceremony of) Arbain,'' said a statement from Jalal Talabani's office.

Talabani had originally said that he would call for the parliament to convene on March 12 but the powerful Shi'ite Alliance asked for a delay until March 19 because it needed more time to negotiate on formation of the new government.

Iraq's political leaders are deadlocked over who should be prime minister in the new government. Sunnis and Kurds are opposed to Shi'ite Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari staying on in the powerful post. Jaafari insisted today he would stay.

Iraqi officials said that they expected the first session of parliament to discuss little substantial business, with hopes fading of leaders reaching a deal on a government by then.

The Shi'ite Alliance, which has close to a majority in the parliament elected in December, said it was determined to resist the efforts to oust Jaafari.

Sunni and Kurdish parties accuse Jaafari of failing to improve security or prosperity in the year he has been interim prime minister.

Jaafari, leader of the Dawa party, won the nomination to lead the new government in an internal ballot of Alliance legislators by a single vote.

REUTERS KD VC2138