A constitutional convention, boycotted by the opposition, is widely derided as a rubber-stamp exercise meant to legitimise the status quo.Last month, hopes were high that Ms Suu Kyi would be set free after one year in her most recent captivity. But there are suspicions there may have been US involvement in the move. Mr Allawi is likely to be a more malleable choice than the technocrats Mr Brahimi was known to favour.The renewed fighting in Najaf yesterday may be more destabilising. It came after Sadr had agreed to withdraw his Army of Mehdi from the holy city if US forces did the same – a deal which was supposed to end weeks of fighting in which Iraq’s most sacred Shia shrine had been damaged.Army of Mehdi militiamen apparently opened fire yesterday after US forces tried to advance towards the Wadi al-Salaam cemetery, where much of the earlier fighting took place. Later an explosion was heard from the city centre.The violence comes after two days of fighting in neighbouring Kufa which have stretched the ceasefire deal. The US-appointed governor of Kufa, Adnan al-Zurufi, accused Sadr of breaking the deal. “There have been no positive initiatives from the office of Sadr so far,” he said.

“Armed men are filling the streets and there have been a number of attacks on state employees in Kufa.”But reports from Kufa say the renewed fighting broke out after the Americans set up checkpoints to prevent Sadr travelling there from Najaf to preach his usual Friday sermon – checkpoints the Army of Mehdi claims are a breach of the deal. Under the deal, Sadr agreed to withdraw militiamen who originate from outside Najaf, but not locals. It is not clear whether he has withdrawn those from outside or not.. The Burmese junta yesterday accused Britain of interfering in its domestic affairs as a handful of protesters dare to stage protests in Burma to mark the first anniversary of the house arrest of the Nobel peace laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi. The United States and European Union recently renewed sanctions that deprive the military elite and their families of foreign exchange and visas.The junta yesterday singled out Britain. Both are more popular choices than Mr Allawi, who has close links to the CIA and MI6.

Mr Pachachi and Mr Yawar, a tribal leader, are widely respected by Iraqis. Although he eschews the use of violence, he has called on Iraqis to use peaceful means to resist the occupation.Although the Americans claim they will hand over “full sovereignty” to Iraqis on 30 June, President George Bush has said he will not pull US troops out of Iraq any time soon. Mr Pachachi, who has said the Americans must stay until Iraqi forces are ready to take over, is therefore the preferred choice for the US.There was surprise and controversy after Mr Allawi was named Prime Minister by the governing council on Friday. The council was not expected to name the new government but the man who was, United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, seemed surprised by the announcement.The governing council, scheduled to be dissolved on 30 June, appeared to have staged an inside coup, naming one of its own members as premier. The violence came as talks to name a new interim government were deadlocked over the question of who will become president.