Iraq's Shi'ite Alliance delays decision on Jaafari

BAGHDAD, Apr 10 (Reuters) Iraq's main Shi'ite Alliance has postponed its decision on whether to drop Ibrahim al-Jaafari as its choice for prime minister until tomorrow, officials in the bloc said.

They said more time was needed for talks but it was likely that the Alliance would start discussing a replacement for Jaafari, who is under intense pressure from Kurdish and Sunni Arab leaders to step down to break a deadlock over a new government.

Kurdish and Sunni leaders have informed the Alliance they will not drop their opposition to Jaafari and even senior members of the his bloc want him to step aside.

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