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Iraqi parliament debates autonomy
26.9.2006 |
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BAGHDAD,
September 26,-- Iraq's parliament took tentative
steps on Tuesday to resolve a deadlock over
autonomous regions, the divisive issue that has
split its politicians on sectarian lines, as fresh
clashes erupted in southern Baghdad.
Parliament carried out the two main parts of a deal
reached this week to end months of political
paralysis, naming a committee to draft amendments to
the constitution and reading out a bill that would
allow regional autonomy.
The two interconnected issues lie at the heart of
Iraq's sectarian divide and have hurt Prime Minister
Nuri al-Maliki's efforts to unite politicians and
end mounting violence.
Majority Shi'ites want to create an autonomous
region in their oil-rich southern heartland.
Minority Sunnis fear this would siphon oil wealth
from Baghdad and could tear the country apart, and
want to amend the constitution to strengthen the
powers of the central government. |
Iraq's parliament in Baghdad |
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Kurds already have autonomy in Kurdistan Region in
the north and want their region to include the
disputed oil city of Kirkuk.
The parliamentary hearing was chaotic, with members
shouting as the autonomy bill was read.
"The Accordance Front must know that this is a
project to divide Iraq!" shouted Abdulla al-Janabi,
referring to his own group, parliament's main Sunni
bloc.
But he was silenced by speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani,
himself a Sunni member of the bloc.
All but three members of the 27-member constitution
drafting committee were named.
They include 12 members of the ruling Shi'ite
religious bloc, five Kurds and four members of the
main Sunni bloc. A chairman was not selected.
Reuters
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