Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
by Mehdi Lebouachera
BAGHDAD, Oct 11 (AFP) - Iraqi political leaders hammered out a last-minute
deal late Tuesday to win Sunni Arab support for the country's new
constitution with a crucial vote just four days away.
After days of intense political negotiations, Shiite and Kurdish leaders
agreed concessions that will see parliament consider amendments to the
charter after new elections are held in December, party officials said.
The main Sunni Arab party in the country said it would now be calling for a
"yes" vote in Saturday's referendum on the constitution which has deeply
divided the country on sectarian grounds.
"There was an agreement and we are calling for a 'yes' vote," Ayad Sammarai,
spokesman for the Iraqi Islamic Party, told AFP. "It will give us the
opportunity to review the constitution."
Most Sunnis are opposed to the federal provisions of the draft constitution,
fearing it could lead to the break-up of the country and leave control of
the vast oil wealth in the hands of Shiites and Kurds.
But the United States has been engaged in efforts to bring the ousted Sunni
elite on board in what is a key stage in the country's political transition
following the toppling of Saddam Hussein in April 2003.
"An accord has been reached, thanks to the mediation of US embassy
representatives, to form a committee during the next parliament which will
be tasked with looking at possible amendments to the constitution," said
Jawad Maliki, the number two in Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari's Shiite
party Dawa.
"This committee will have four months after its creation to come up with
possible changes," he told AFP.
In addition to US officials, British diplomats and UN representatives were
also involved during the conclusion of the accord.
The constitution will be adopted if a majority of voters in Iraq approve the
text in Saturday's referendum and if two thirds of voters in three or more
provinces do not reject it.
Whatever the outcome of the referendum, Iraq is due to hold a new general
election on December 15.
Under the terms of Tuesday's deal, any amendments to the constitution would
be put to a new referendum and could be rejected by two thirds of registered
voters in three provinces.
BAGHDAD, Oct 11 (AFP) - Iraqi political leaders hammered out a last-minute
deal late Tuesday to win Sunni Arab support for the country's new
constitution with a crucial vote just four days away.
After days of intense political negotiations, Shiite and Kurdish leaders
agreed concessions that will see parliament consider amendments to the
charter after new elections are held in December, party officials said.
The main Sunni Arab party in the country said it would now be calling for a
"yes" vote in Saturday's referendum on the constitution which has deeply
divided the country on sectarian grounds.
"There was an agreement and we are calling for a 'yes' vote," Ayad Sammarai,
spokesman for the Iraqi Islamic Party, told AFP. "It will give us the
opportunity to review the constitution."
Most Sunnis are opposed to the federal provisions of the draft constitution,
fearing it could lead to the break-up of the country and leave control of
the vast oil wealth in the hands of Shiites and Kurds.
But the United States has been engaged in efforts to bring the ousted Sunni
elite on board in what is a key stage in the country's political transition
following the toppling of Saddam Hussein in April 2003.
"An accord has been reached, thanks to the mediation of US embassy
representatives, to form a committee during the next parliament which will
be tasked with looking at possible amendments to the constitution," said
Jawad Maliki, the number two in Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari's Shiite
party Dawa.
"This committee will have four months after its creation to come up with
possible changes," he told AFP.
In addition to US officials, British diplomats and UN representatives were
also involved during the conclusion of the accord.
The constitution will be adopted if a majority of voters in Iraq approve the
text in Saturday's referendum and if two thirds of voters in three or more
provinces do not reject it.
Whatever the outcome of the referendum, Iraq is due to hold a new general
election on December 15.
Under the terms of Tuesday's deal, any amendments to the constitution would
be put to a new referendum and could be rejected by two thirds of registered
voters in three provinces.