Washington: Hussain Shahristani, a Shiite nuclear scientist who spent years in the notorious Abu Ghraib prison for refusing to participate in Saddam Hussein's nuclear, is the leading candidate for Prime Ministership in the interim Iraqi Government, a media report said.

UN envoy to Iraq Lakhdar Brahimi, who is currently finalising the interim Government line-up, has met several times this month with Shahristani and indications are that the scientist could well be the best choice among candidates for Prime-Ministership, 'The Washington Post' reported, quoting Iraqi and US officials.

Shahristani, 62, said in an interview yesterday (May 25, 2004) that he would reluctantly accept the job if asked. "If they consider my participation essential, I'll try to convince them otherwise.

"But if they're not convinced and they ask me to take a role, I cannot refuse. I must serve my people."

Brahimi and US presidential envoy to Iraq Robert D Blackwill are still in the final throes of working out the "complicated geometry" of dividing power among Iraq's disparate ethnic and religious factions.

Shahristani has little political experience. Unlike many other Iraqis who lived in exile, he was not active in Opposition political parties, choosing instead to focus his energies on humanitarian aid projects.

However, he is close to Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the country's most-powerful Shiite cleric, whose support is essential for the viability of an interim Government.