NYT: Shiites and Kurds Halt Charter Talks With Sunnis

[Pirate Smile]

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Saturday, Aug. 27 - Shiite and Kurdish leaders drafting a new Iraqi constitution abandoned negotiations with a group of Sunni representatives on Friday, deciding to take the disputed charter directly to the Iraqi people.

With the American ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, standing by, Shiite and Kurdish representatives said that they had run out of patience with the Sunni negotiators, a group that includes several former member of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. The Shiites and Kurds said the Sunnis had refused to budge on a pair of crucial issues that were holding up completion of the constitution.

The Shiites and Kurds reached their decision in meetings that ran late into Friday night, disregarding the Sunnis' pleas for more time.

The Shiite and Kurdish representatives sought to play down the importance of leaving the Sunnis out, saying that with their Baathist links, they had never truly spoken for the broader Sunni population. The Iraqi leaders who drafted the constitution defended it as a document that would ensure the unity of the country and safeguard individual rights.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/27/international/middleeast/27iraq.html?hp&ex=1125115200&en=916201a6ee4f1a56&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[bemildred]

1. Go to Civil War. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. nt

[bear425]

3. That's it in a nutshell.

I had a terrible dream about a week ago that Iraq would dissove into civil war within two weeks. I hope it doesn't come true. :(

[bemildred]

4. I think that's about right (two weeks).

They have all told each other "go screw yourself" and there is no longer any political process to resolve anything.

[H5N1]

2. bush says, "excellent!"

[jimshoes]

5. They started a country

and nobody came.

[fishnfla]

6. Rummy's " Baathist dead enders" from 2 years ago

gonna show 'em the meaning of dead

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. A great way to settle a dispute, stop talking

This is, along with greed and ambition to control others is the gold standard recipe for failure and bloodshed throughout the ages.

[GoBlue]

8. Gosh, wish we had a constitution like that....

"The Iraqi leaders who drafted the constitution defended it as a document that would ensure the unity of the country and safeguard individual rights. :sarcasm:

[FreeStateDemocrat]

9. NYT: Iraq's Head of Parliament Announces Amended Constitution Draft

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 27, 2005
Filed at 6:35 a.m. ET

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq's head of parliament announced Saturday that Shiites and Kurds had agreed to Sunni Arab proposals for the new constitution and were awaiting a response. But Sunni negotiators said the changes fall short of their demands and urged voters to reject the draft in the Oct. 15 referendum.

Speaker Hajim al-Hassani, himself a Sunni, said the amended text, dealing with issues of federalism and former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, would be submitted Sunday to parliament. The legislature, overwhelmingly Shiite and Kurdish, may vote on it or simply refer it to the voters.

Al-Hassani's comments followed similar statements late Friday by Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers but were significant because he has final say in when the assembly will act.

His remarks indicated that negotiations on the new constitution had run their course. Barring a sudden change of mind by the Sunnis, the charter is likely to go to the voters over Sunni objections, setting the stage for a bitter political battle ahead of the referendum by supporters and opponents of the draft.

http://nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq.html?hp&ex=1125201600&en=163cdddbdbb02f34&ei=5094&partner=homepage