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Baghdad, Iraq (AP) U.S. and Iraqi officials hope
the new constitution, which goes to the voters in a
referendum Oct. 15, will in time help pacify the
insurgency by luring Sunni Arabs from the
insurgency. However, Sunni negotiators rejected the
constitution and vowed to defeat it in the
referendum.
On Monday, Iraq’s president said he and the other
top Kurdish leader had agreed to changes in the
draft constitution to mollify concerns among Arab
countries that the wording in the charter loosened
Iraqi ties to the Arab world.
The language at issue describes Iraq as an Islamic -
but not Arab country - a concession to the non-Arab
Kurds who form about 15 percent of the Iraqi
population.
In a statement released by his office, Jalal
Talabani said he and Massood Barzani agreed "to
accept some amendments deemed vital for the Islamic
and Arab worlds concerning the Arab League because
Iraq is a founding member in the Arab League."
Talabani did not specify what changes in the
language had been agreed to by him and Barzani, head
of the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
Some Iraqi officials said last week that the changes
could keep the description of Iraq as an Islamic
state but add wording about Iraq having been a
founding member of the Arab League.
Talabani also expressed frustration that no Arab
government has designated an ambassador to Iraq
despite assurances received months ago that they
would. But the kidnap-slaying of top envoys from
Egypt and Algeria in July clearly delayed the move.
AP
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