Jaafari set to become Iraq's next PM

Once in office, the softly spoken physician faces the daunting task of bringing minority Sunni Muslims into the political fold.

Ibrahim al-Jaafari, who is all but certain to be Iraq's next prime minister, is expected to use firm but understated diplomacy to navigate his country around sectarian minefields after last month's historic election.

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The main Shi'ite alliance, winner of the Jan. 30 polls, on Tuesday unanimously approved Jaafari for the post, meaning the former exile and leader of the Islamist Dawa Party is virtually guaranteed to get the job.

Once in office, the softly spoken physician faces the daunting task of bringing minority Sunni Muslims once privileged under Saddam Hussein into the political fold after they boycotted the polls or did not vote out of fear of violence.

Saddam's henchmen killed thousands of Jaafari's fellow Shi'ites in the underground Dawa party during the 1980s and 1990s. But the low-key politician does not believe Iraq's repressive past will plunge the country into civil war.

After more than two decades of opposing Saddam, both in Iraq and abroad, Jaafari has learned skilled diplomacy. He also knows that American troops should not leave too soon, with Iraq plagued by suicide bombings, kidnappings and crime.

Majority Shi'ites gained unprecedented power by capturing 48 per cent of the votes in the election, while Sunnis were marginalised, raising fears some could join the insurgency.