WASHINGTON, April 30: The United States and the United Nations are nearing consensus on the appointment of Iraq's current planning minister, Mehdi Hafez, to lead the interim Iraqi government that is scheduled to take over from the US occupation authority when the country returns to self-rule on June 30.

The officials said Mr Hafez, a Shia with moderate views, is at the top of a list of about eight candidates prepared by special UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi as possible choices to become Iraq's prime minister.

"He is far and away the closest to meeting all the criteria," one official said, noting that Hafez appeared to be acceptable to nearly all of Iraq's fractious ethnic, political and religious factions. "Almost all the boxes are checked off next to his name."

Most importantly, Mr Hafez seems to have won the blessing of Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, the revered spiritual leader, who earlier this year cratered US plans to select the interim government in regional caucuses by demanding direct elections, the officials said.

Iraq's restive northern Kurdish minority has also voiced approval of Mr Hafez who has won the backing of Mr Brahimi, the man on whom the United States is now counting to produce an interim government amid surging violence against the coalition and demands for immediate sovereignty, the officials said.

Mr Hafez has been quietly making the rounds in Washington this week, according to the officials. He is expected to visit New York for consultations at the United Nations on Friday, they said. -AFP