Sunnis Say No Chance for Iraq Constitutional Deal

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Sunnis say no chance for Iraq constitution deal
29 Sep 2005 13:28:19 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Michael Georgy

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.