[JURIST] As expected [JURIST report], Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani [BBC profile] was elected by the 275-member Iraqi National Assembly [Wikipedia article] Wednesday to serve as president of Iraq's transitional government. In the same vote, Shiite Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Sunni current interim President Ghazi al-Yawer were chosen as vice presidents. Talabani and his vice presidents received 227 votes, with thirty ballots left blank. After Talabani's swearing-in ceremony Thursday, the National Assembly will begin work on Iraq's new constitution. Iraq's parliament is currently scheduled to have a first draft of a constitution prepared by August 15. AP has more.