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Iraq constitution will be on time - panel
head
1.8.2005
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BAGHDAD, Aug 1
(Reuters) - The head of the committee drafting
Iraq's new constitution told parliament on Monday
that a draft of the document would be ready by an
Aug. 15 deadline, settling worries that there could
be a delay.
"We can get it completed by August 15," Humam
Hammoudi, head of the 71-member drafting committee,
told parliament. He said five or six points of
difference remained among those writing the
document, but said he hoped they could be resolved.
The major sticking point, which has divided the
drafters along sectarian and ethnic lines, is over
federalism and how power and resources should be
distributed in a federal state.
Other bones of contention include the role of Islam,
whether Iraqis should be allowed to have dual
nationality, and what the official national
languages should be.
Hammoudi said only one chapter of the document
remained to be written and he expected it would be
completed in the next 10 days or so.
"We will work day and night to finish it on time.
Even our Sunni brothers insist on finishing it on
time," he said.
The speaker of parliament confirmed that no formal
request for an extension to the deadline had been
made.
The drafting committee on Sunday was considering
asking for an extension of anywhere between two
weeks and six months, with many members saying more
time was essential. U.S. authorities have been
pushing hard for the deadline to be met.
They see the drafting of the document as the best
chance for drawing Sunni Arabs, from whom the
insurgency draws most of its support, into the
political process and sapping momentum from the
guerrillas fighting U.S. and Iraqi forces.
Tamping down the insurgency would in turn increase
the likelihood of U.S. forces withdrawing from Iraq
sooner.
Reuters
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