Sunnis say no chance for Iraq constitution deal

[leftchick]

BAGHDAD, Sept 29 (Reuters) - With a referendum on Iraq's constitution two weeks away, Arab Sunnis remain fiercely opposed to the draft, stepping up pressure on the United States to broker a last-minute deal to ease sectarian divisions.

"The constitution issue is dead until the referendum," said Sunni negotiator Hussein al-Falluji on Thursday. "We will vote 'No' and we will not accept the American policy of aggression to get what they want. There is no way we will support it."

The draft constitution, endorsed by Shi'ite and Kurdish leaders, is central to a U.S. and Iraqi government strategy of drawing Sunnis into politics to defuse a Sunni insurgency and keep the country from sliding towards sectarian civil war.

U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad met President Jalal Talabani and other Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq on Wednesday for what Kurdish sources said were discussions on Sunni Arab conditions for backing the charter to be put to a vote Oct. 15.

U.S. embassy officials had no comment on the talks.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BAK947253.htm

[enigma000]

1. A little late to be making amendments at this point

The chief Sunni negotiator, Saleh Mutlak, said his team still insists that federalism be dropped from the draft.

"If these demands are met or modified then we will change our position and we will call for people to vote 'Yes' in the referendum," he said.

[VegasWolf]

2. Bush, "Get me Diebold on the line now!" nt

[Jim__]

3. It's a strange ratification process

If I understand it right, if one third of the people in a province vote for it, it passes. It takes a two thirds vote to reject it. The Sunnis may not be able to reject it in the required 3 provinces. But, I don't think they'll accept it even if it passes.

[enigma000]

4. It still has to receive 50% of the national vote to pass n/t