BAGHDAD, Iraq – U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi (search) said Wednesday that Iraqi nuclear scientist Hussain al-Shahristani (search) doesn't want a top job in Iraq's new interim government.
Al-Shahristani, a Shiite Muslim who was jailed under Saddam Hussein's (search) regime, was identified as a leading contender for prime minister.
Brahimi, who is in Baghdad helping Iraqis agree on an interim government that will take over June 30, said he met al-Shahristani and thinks highly of him, his spokesman Ahmed Fawzi said in a statement.
Brahimi "has no doubt that Mr. Shahristani could serve his country well in a number of positions in government," the statement said.
"Mr. Shahristani, however, has himself clarified that he would prefer to serve his country in other ways," it said, without elaborating.
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