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Iraq constitution team considers seeking a
delay
1.8.2005
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BAGHDAD (Reuters)
31.July - The team drawing up Iraq's new
constitution considered giving itself more time to
write the document on Sunday, but still looked set
to meet its mid-August deadline under intense U.S.
pressure.
Skip to next paragraph The drafting of the
constitution is a major plank in the U.S.
administration's plans for democracy in Iraq and is
seen as perhaps the best chance for a political end
to the insurgency. Violence, however, continued
unabated on Sunday, with a car bomb killing seven
people at a police checkpoint near Baghdad.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, flanked by U.S.
ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, told reporters it was
essential that the U.S.- backed timetable for
writing the constitution was met and the document
presented to parliament by the deadline of Aug. 15.
Many of the 71 members on the drafting committee say
they need more time, while others say the priority
is meeting the deadline. The debate has come to a
head because any extension must be requested by Aug.
1.
The committee met all day on Sunday to consider
whether it should ask for more time, but could not
reach a decision. Members said they would meet again
on Monday.
At the same time, they said committee chairman Humam
Hammoudi would meet Talabani and the speaker of
parliament to discuss the issue. An application for
an extension has to be made by Hammoudi to the
speaker.
Just as there are deep divisions among committee
members over what should be in the constitution,
there are profound differences of opinion over
whether there should be a delay.
TIMETABLE FOR TRANSITION
According to Iraq's interim constitution, drawn up
last year with the help of U.S. and British
diplomats, an extension of six months can be
requested.
If a delay is granted, it would set back the
timetable for Iraq's transition to democracy, a
schedule the United States is very keen for the
country's politicians stick to. During a visit to
Baghdad last week, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
was insistent about the timetable being met.
The schedule calls for the draft constitution to be
written by Aug. 15, put to a referendum by Oct. 15
and elections for a new government to be held under
the charter by Dec 15.
While some favor a delay, there is by no means
unanimity among committee members. Many Sunni Arabs
are staunchly opposed.
Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish member of the team, said
he did not believe a draft would be ready by Aug. 1,
as Hammoudi hoped. While he said an extension might
be needed, he did not believe one would be
requested.
``The Americans want to make a quick constitution,''
he said, adding that U.S. officials were putting
intense pressure on the drafters. However, he
cautioned: ``They have a lot of experience in fast
food, but they can't make a fast constitution.''
U.S. officials see a peaceful political process --
symbolised by Shi'ites, Sunni Arabs and Kurds
getting together to write a constitution, despite
the violence -- as the best way of putting an end to
the Sunni-led insurgency.
There has been little peace dividend so far. A car
bomb at an Iraqi police checkpoint south of Baghdad
killed seven people and wounded 12 on Sunday, while
another car bomb in central Baghdad killed five and
wounded 20 on Saturday.
Insurgents have threatened to kill Sunni Arabs who
join the political process, and one Sunni Arab
member of the constitution drafting team was
assassinated this month, stalling its work.
Reuters
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