|
Iraq Interim Constitution Signing Delayed
EFL, hat tip to Drudge ReportAlso, did I beat the Army of Steves in posting this? BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Shiite members of Iraqâs Governing Council refused to sign the interim constitution at the last minute Friday, delaying a signing ceremony after the countryâs top Shiite cleric rejected parts of the document, Iraqi officials said. The council agreed to the accord unanimously Monday, but Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani rejected provisions put into the text at the request of the Kurds to protect their self-rule area in the north, said a source in the council, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The marjaâiya (al-Sistaniâs office) will not accept it," the source said. Also in dispute was a clause outlining the shape of the presidency in the future government, a Shiite official said. The Shiites were reviving a demand that would let them dominate the presidency, he said. * * * One of the clauses was sought by the Kurds to ensure that the eventual permanent constitution, to be put to a national referendum, does not encroach on their self-rule zone in the north. The clause says that if two-thirds of the voters in any three provinces reject the permanent charter, it will not go into effect. The Kurd self-rule region includes three provinces in the north. * * * The council members that refused to sign were Ahmad Chalabi of the Iraqi National Congress, Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim of the Supreme Council, Ibrahim al-Jaafari of the Dawa party, independent Shiite Mouwafak al-Rubaie and the current council president, Shiite cleric Muhammad Bahr al-Ulloom, al-Bayati said. * * * So why do I feel like the US has been played by Chalabi? I just hope that, while he thinks heâs using us, weâre actually out playing him . . . Posted by: cingold 2004-03-05 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=27525 |