source:
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-22T210011Z_01_MOL045458_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-DC.XMLIraq's majority Shi'ites and Kurdish allies pushed a draft constitution into parliament on Monday, minutes before a midnight deadline, but minority Sunnis, warning of civil war, held up a final vote amid confusion.
With the Shi'ite Islamist-led coalition talking of a "final" document being completed, the speaker of the National Assembly announced to applause the deadline had been met and a draft constitution presented. But without calling a vote he dismissed the chamber, saying there would be three more days of talks.
It remained unclear how far continuing Sunni Arab objections to regional autonomy within a federal state could be overcome and Shi'ite leaders said they were ready to press on regardless.
"If it passes, there will be an uprising in the streets," Sunni negotiator Saleh al-Mutlak said, adding that further blockage on a deal would in his view trigger elections to a new interim assembly.
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