KURD PRESIDENT - Iraqis elect Talaban!

This morning Iraq has a new interim president, Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani. I was just joking about a Taliban being elected.

Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a Shiite, and interim President Ghazi al-Yawer, a Sunni Arab, were chosen as Talabani's two vice presidents. After weeks of at times tense negotiations, the three candidates received 227 votes. Thirty ballots were left blank.

The announcement of the vote drew applause, and many lawmakers crowded around Talabani to congratulate him. In the Kurdish north, which had led uprisings against Saddam, crowds danced in the streets, celebrating.

Talabani was expected to be sworn in to his post, which is largely ceremonial, on Thursday, then name Shiite leader Ibrahim al-Jaafari prime minister, clearing the way for talks on a new constitution that must be completed by Aug. 15.

I thank God that this infant democracy has taken another step on its way to full-fledged adulthood, may he continue to bless the efforts of pro-democracy elements in the region.