Thursday, June 16, 2005

Deal struck on Sunni Arab role in drafting Iraq constitution - UPDATE

Progress for an inclusive government continues to be made as the October constitutional referendum draws closer. The left has been insisting a civil war is in progress, either they are lying again or civil wars ain't what they used to be.

BAGHDAD (AFX) - A deal has been reached on the participation of the Sunni Arabs, who largely boycotted January's election, in a panel to draft the Iraqi constitution, deputies and Sunni leaders told Agence France-Presse.

'We have agreed with our brothers from the (Shiite) United Iraqi Alliance and the (Kurdish) alliance, in the presence of Adnan al-Janabi, the coordinator for the Sunni Arabs, that Sunni Arabs will have 15 seats on the constitution drafting committee and 10 other seats as consultants,' said Abdul Rahman Munshid al-Asi, a Sunni Arab who took part in the talks.

Sunni Arabs only had two seats on the 55-member committee, but the Shiites and Kurds, dominant in parliament, have been looking to bring in more figures from the disenchanted community.

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