No Candidate Challenges Talabani

Kurdistan Alliance member Fuad Masoom said there is no candidate competing with (Iraqi president Jalal) Talabani to become president. The alliance has nominated Talabani to hold the post once again. If there is another candidate who could win two-thirds of the (parliamentary) votes, Masoom said the alliance would withdraw (Talabani's nomination.) Meanwhile, most of the members of the United Iraqi Alliance (the leading slate in parliament) agreed to name a candidate for prime minister on February 2. Alliance member Abbas al-Bayati said members will vote on a candidate because they could not unanimously choose one.