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Iraq panel member seeks Federalism Delay
9.8.2005
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
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BAGHDAD, Iraq
(AP) - A leading Sunni Arab helping write Iraq's
constitution said Tuesday that accepting Kurdish
demands for federalism would have ``grave
consequences'' for the nation and that the issue
should be left for the new parliament.
Saleh al-Mutlaq spoke as Iraqi political leaders
prepared to resume talks Tuesday in a bid to
finalize the charter, which parliament must approve
by next week's deadline. A second round of talks was
postponed by a severe sandstorm Monday.
Al-Mutlaq said the Tuesday meeting will concentrate
on federalism. He said the Sunni Arab bloc might
formally submit a proposal to delay a decision on
the contentious issue until the new parliament takes
office in December.
``I think they will accept it because there is no
alternative. We will not accept federalism in these
circumstances,'' said al-Mutlaq, who like most Sunni
Arabs fears that federalism might divide Iraq.
Sunni Arabs are expected to take a bigger role in
the elections planned for Dec. 15. Many of them
boycotted the Jan. 30 vote following calls by
religious leaders and threats by insurgents.
Sunnis, who make 20 percent of Iraq's population,
currently hold only 17 seats of the 275-member
parliament.
The Kurds, who have enjoyed self-rule in the north
since 1991, have demanded that the new constitution
codify federalism to prevent a future government
from curbing Kurdish autonomy.
However, al-Mutlaq said that if the Kurdish demands
are met, ``they will have grave consequences.'' He
did not elaborate, but the strong language
underscores the depth of passion which the issue of
federalism evokes on both sides.
Al-Mutlaq also called for more political groups to
join the constitutional discussions because the
future of Iraq is at stake.
It was unclear whether Kurdish leader Massoud
Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and
an outspoken champion of federalism, will attend
Tuesday's meeting.
Barzani has been stuck in the north due to bad
weather in Baghdad, unable to reach the capital.
Sandstorms eased in the Baghdad area on Tuesday, but
visibility was still limited.
AP
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