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| Iraq |
| Constitution key to healing Iraq's sectarian rifts - Hakim |
| 2008-10-08 |
| The Constitution is Iraq's only viable road map to overcoming the bitter sectarianism that has torn the nation apart since the US-led invasion of 2003, leading Shiite politician Ammar al-Hakim told AFP. Hakim, eldest son of Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), is likely to take over the influential Shiite religious party from his father, who is undergoing treatment for lung cancer. In an interview with AFP at his heavily fortified headquarters in Baghdad, Hakim said Iraq's feuding factions had to engage in constructive dialogue and adhere to the fledgling democracy's laws for the sake of national unity. "We agree we must stick to the Constitution, to the laws and how the Constitution says power should be distributed," the up-and-coming politician said. "What is written in the Constitution in regards to power for the central government, we are going to support and the same goes for the local governments." Hakim's party holds 30 seats in Parliament and is a key member of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shiite-led coalition. The SIIC also has strong ties with the Iranian government. However, differences have emerged with Maliki's Dawa party over the SIIC's championing of a federal system for Iraq with greater powers devolved to the provinces. "Such differences can always be solved as long as we rely on the Constitution as a base," said the 37-year-old Hakim. "A strong Iraq is not only one that has a strong capital. There should be strong local governments besides the strong capital," the politician said. The Constitution was approved in October 2005. But it was largely rejected by Sunni Arabs who feared it would place too much power in the hands of regions, leave the country's vast oil resources in the hands of Shiites and Kurds and lead to a break-up of Iraq. |
| Posted by:Fred |