Sunni Arab Role May Snag Iraq Constitution

[maddezmom]

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer
6 minutes ago



BAGHDAD, Iraq - Sunni Arabs submitted a list of 15 candidates for a Shiite-dominated committee drafting Iraq's constitution, but were having second thoughts Monday about a demand by legislators that they first win the backing of a larger Sunni group.

The demand appeared to be aimed at ensuring that the 15 candidates enjoy the widest possible support among the disaffected minority community to avoid any future opposition to the group — which could derail the drafting of the constitution.

"The issue must be dealt with in a transparent manner so we can have political figures who enjoy a genuine popular base," said Sunni Arab legislator and constitutional committee member Abdul-Rahman al-Noami.

Other Sunni Arabs, however, are divided over the endorsement process — with some complaining it could be time-consuming and others worried it would create further dissent.

The latest snag in efforts to give Sunni Arabs a bigger say in drafting the constitution will likely take days to resolve, further eroding the little time remaining for the charter to be drafted.
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more:http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050620/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_constitution_1