Key Shiites Demand Autonomy in Southern Iraq as Deadline Nears

[BurtWorm]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-iraq.html?ei=5094&en=b933c30af5d19a23&hp=&ex=1123819200&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print


August 11, 2005

By REUTERS
Filed at 11:11 a.m. ET

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - With four days left until Iraq's leaders have promised a draft constitution, powerful Islamist leaders made a dramatic bid on Thursday to have a big, autonomous Shi'ite region across the oil-rich south.

The head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) spelled out his demands to tens of thousands of chanting supporters in the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf.

But minority Sunni and secular opponents, as well as rival Shi'ite Islamists in the coalition national government, swiftly poured cold water on an idea that fueled fears about sectarian battles over oil and Iranian-style religious rule in the south.

Some saw it as a negotiating tactic ahead of a self-imposed deadline on Monday to present the draft to parliament; a top Shi'ite negotiator, who dismissed the demand made by SCIRI chief Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, said 16 points were still in dispute.

[BurtWorm]

1. "Shi'ite and Sunni regions it would simply destroy Iraq."

It was unclear whether the row -- and continued arguments over the extent of Islamic law -- would delay delivery of a text that Washington hopes can help quell the Sunni Arab insurgency.

The crucial issue is the nature of federalism and the quest for wording to satisfy Kurdish demands for continued autonomy in the north, Shi'ite hopes for some new autonomy in the south, and also address concerns among Sunni Arabs and others in the center that they not be left with a rump Iraqi state deprived of oil.

``If we can deal with that ... we should finish in the next few days so the draft will be ready on time,'' Bahaa al-Araji, a senior Shi'ite on the constitution drafting panel, told Reuters.

...

U.S. diplomats, active on the sidelines of talks on what is a vital project for American interests, have clear reservations about SCIRI's traditional ties to Washington's regional foe Iran and make plain they will not stand for clerical rule in Iraq.

[BurtWorm]

2. kick

[Bunny]

3. Hi BurtWorm!

Were you on vacation or something? I posted a thread here a few days ago, asking if anyone had seen you - you were MIA! Glad you're back! :hi:

[BurtWorm]

4. I *was* on vacation.

Hi, Bunny! :hi:

I even took a vacation from politics. Now I'm back and I see it's the same old shit. :eyes:

[Bunny]

5. Ain't that the truth?

Same old, same old, indeed.

Anyway, I hope you had a nice vacation - did you go away, or have a stay-at-home vacation?

[BurtWorm]

6. I went to Maine.

It was cool and sunny, and mostly dry. It was delightful!