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Sunni leader expects "No" vote on Iraqi
charter
14.10.2005
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PUTRAJAYA,
Malaysia (Reuters) - An Iraqi Sunni leader said on
Friday he expected Iraqi voters to reject a new
constitution, saying last-minute amendments to the
charter still fell short of his expectations.
Skip to next paragraph ``There will be a 'No',''
Industry Minister Usama Abdul Aziz al-Najafi, a
Sunni Arab cabinet ministers, told reporters during
a visit to Malaysia.
"It doesn't represent the aspirations of all
Iraqis,'' he said on the eve of Saturday's
referendum on the constitution. ''The changes...were
not enough to ratify the constitution.''
Sunnis, who enjoyed political dominance during
Saddam Hussein's rule but now feel ostracized, fear
the charter will open the door for breakaway regions
in Kurdistan and those in the mainly Shi'ite south.
These areas are rich in oil.
The constitution is part of Washington's plan to
establish a stable democracy in Iraq and begin
withdrawing 140,000 U.S. troops, whose deployment is
increasingly unpopular at home.
The vote on the constitution is a prelude for new
parliamentary elections in December, which diplomats
say could further fuel Iraq's brutal sectarian
tensions.
Al-Najafi said a "No'' vote was unlikely to trigger
fresh uprisings but could delay the elections.
"It could be delayed by several months,'' he said.
"We have to re-write the constitution first.''
Sunni Arab militants, angry at America and fearing
the new constitution will sideline them in favor of
the Shi'ite majority and its Kurdish allies, have
staged a relentless series of car bombings, suicide
attacks and kidnaps that have killed thousands of
civilians.
Negotiations aimed at winning Sunni support for the
constitution scored a success this week when at
least two main Sunni political groups opted to back
the charter in exchange for a promise that
amendments would be considered after the vote.
But other Sunni leaders have remained steadfast in
their opposition.
"We rejected the constitution because it doesn't
give the Arabic identity of the Iraqis. They must
understand we are part of the Arab world,'' al-Najafi
said.
Reuters
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