Draft Iraq constitution calls country "federal"

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BAK251045.htm

Draft Iraq constitution calls country "federal"

BAGHDAD, Aug 22 (Reuters) - A draft of Iraq's constitution to be put to parliament later on Monday defines the country as "federal" but does not define the concept in detail, a copy of the text seen by Reuters says.

The document describes Iraq as a "republican, parliamentarian, democratic and federal" state, but does not describe specifically the degree or nature of the federalism that Kurds and some Shi'ites are seeking in parts of the country.

The lack of definition would appear to offer a compromise to the Sunni Muslim community, in an effort to ensure the constitution is approved. Sunnis are staunchly opposed to federalism, particularly for Shi'ites in the south.

[Teaser]

1. Update: Sunnis not happy with this

Some Sunni Muslims said they continued to be adamantly opposed to the constitution despite the softer wording, but their protests looked unlikely to be able to prevent the draft being presented to parliament.

The draft must be approved by a simple majority of the 275- member National Assembly. Hussain al-Shahristani, the deputy speaker of the assembly and a Shi'ite, said earlier that he expected it to pass by "much more" than that.

If the document is approved, it must be put to a referendum by October 15. If any three of Iraq's 18 provinces reject the referendum by two-thirds or more, the constitution will be rejected.

Some Sunnis have already said they plan to mobilise their community to try to have the constitution rejected in October.

link

[Javaman]

4. Define "mobilise"...

"Some Sunnis have already said they plan to mobilise their community to try to have the constitution rejected in October."

[maddezmom]

2. Iraq Shi'ites aim to push through constitution - Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's ruling Shi'ite Islamists prepared on Monday to force a draft constitution through the interim parliament they dominate, brushing off fierce objections from minorities as they raced to beat a midnight deadline.


A draft prepared without the participation of minority Sunni Arab delegates appeared nonetheless to give ground to some Sunni concerns about Shi'ites and Kurds hiving off powerful federal regions in the oil-rich north and south.

A text seen by Reuters defined Iraq as a "federal" republic but gave no details and one member of parliament's drafting committee, from the small Christian minority, said details of the extent and mechanisms of autonomy would be worked out later.

Some Sunnis, complaining that consensus had been breached, said that was not enough to satisfy their demands that "federalism" be left out of the charter altogether.


more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050822/ts_nm/iraq_dc_139;_

[dutchdoctor]

3. Thus, the balkanisation of Iraq starts

or as Bush would say it (if he would be capable of speaking the truth): "vulcanisation".