More Changes Said Likely to Iraq Charter

[ECH1969]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. ambassador suggested Tuesday there may be further changes to the draft constitution in order to win Sunni Arab approval, saying he believed a "final, final draft" had not yet been presented.

"I believe that a final, final draft has not yet been, or the edits have not been, presented yet so that is something that Iraqis will have to talk to each other and decide for themselves," Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters.

Khalilzad spoke alongside prominent Sunni leader Adnan al-Dulaimi, who urged Sunnis to reject the constitution in the Oct. 15 referendum as it stands. He also denounced the Shiite-led Interior Ministry for allegedly murdering Sunnis.

It was unclear if negotiations among the factions were actually under way. But the presence of Khalilzad with a respected Sunni figure was a clear sign the Bush administration has not given up on its campaign to win Sunni endorsement before the referendum.

http://www.record-journal.com/articles/2005/08/30/ap/headlines/d8ca67gg0.txt

[Teaser]

1. It's somewhat humorous

that this is our proconsul saying this, and not the shi'ah hierarchy. One wonders if this will piss them off?

[Voltaire99]

2. This line saying we will be guardian ad litem to your oil...

...is merely a technicality, my friend.