Baghdad, Iraq ? A 45-year-old engineer and Sunni tribal sheik maneuvered himself into Saddam Hussein’s old job Tuesday with the assent of the United States, Iraq’s Governing Council and United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.

About an hour after the announcement of Ghazi al-Yawar’s appointment as Iraq’s interim president, a powerful car bomb exploded in downtown Baghdad, killing three and wounding 11 in a reminder that, new government or old, the insurgency continues to define daily life in American-occupied Iraq. The impact shook the palace walls where dignitaries had gathered to fete al-Yawar. A roadside bomb also killed 11 Iraqis and wounded many others elsewhere in northern Iraq, not far from a U.S. base near the town of Beiji.

The interim government will not officially take office until July 1, but the U.S.-appointed Governing Council chose to dissolve itself immediately. Al-Yawar and Prime Minister-designate Ayad Allawi would head an interim government for seven months until January 2005, when elections are scheduled. The interim government’s authority would emanate from a United Nations Security Council resolution that is awaiting approval.

‘Zero’ role by Bush

In Washington, D.C., President Bush welcomed the announcement of the new government. “The naming of the new interim government brings us one step closer to realizing the dream of millions of Iraqis: a fully sovereign nation with a representative government that protects their rights and serves their needs,” he said.

Bush said he had no role — “zero” — in picking the new president.

On June 30, the Coalition Provisional Authority headed by Paul Bremer would officially cease to exist, to be replaced by an elaborate embassy staffed by thousands and headed by Ambassador John Negroponte, currently the U.S. envoy to the United Nations.

Until the past few days, al-Yawar had been a fairly low-key member of the Governing Council. But as the United States advocated the candidacy of former foreign minister Adnan Pachachi for the largely ceremonial post of president, most council members lined up behind al-Yawar.

Brahimi said in a statement that he’d offered the post to Pachachi but that he’d turned it down for “personal reasons.” Governing Council members said Pachachi took his name out when he realized he did not have enough support among his colleagues.

Promises to the people

Al-Yawar is a pragmatist who collaborated with coalition forces. However, he has repeatedly criticized the U.S. military on several recent issues, including the siege of Fallujah and Najaf and the raid on the offices of council member Ahmad Chalabi.

Brahimi, speaking at the introduction of the new government, urged Iraqis to support the new leaders.

“Give them a chance, help them and judge them after reading their programs and the work they will carry out,” he said.

Allawi promised to increase the pay for Iraq soldiers. Allawi, a former exile leader who was supported by the CIA, switched his speech in Arabic to English to thank the United States.

“We would like to express our extreme gratitude and appreciation for the coalition led by the United States and all those who have made painful sacrifices for the liberation of Iraq,” he said.

Dressed in a traditional flowing white tribal dress and kaffiyeh, Al-Yawar pledged “to restore Iraq’s civilized face and positive and constructive role on the Arab, regional and international levels.”

Al-Yawar derives his support mainly from the 200,000-strong Shammar tribe, one of Iraq’s largest. The clan’s affiliation stretches to Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan and the Gulf States.

Al-Yawar earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from George Washington University. After the first Iraq war, he had fled to Saudi Arabia, where he ran a successful telecommunications company. He returned to Iraq shortly after the American invasion.