Biographical information on Iraqi PM

A look at Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki.

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AGE: 57

BACKGROUND: Veteran leader of the Shiite Dawa Party, spent more than 20 years in exile, mostly in Syria. After returning, was one of top negotiators for Shiite Muslim bloc in drafting new constitution and was deputy head of committee for purging former Baath Party members from military and government. Born July 1, 1950, in village outside Karbala.

ROLE AS PRIME MINISTER: Took office as third prime minister of post-Saddam Iraq in May 2006, replacing Ibrahim al-Jaafari. Has strong White House support but has been criticized by Sunni Arab leaders for pursuing sectarian policies and not promoting reconciliation between the warring sects. Originally had close ties to Shiite radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, but the two fell out and al-Maliki has recently intensified a crackdown on Shiite militias with an offensive in Basra, Iraq's southern oil hub.