Hopes for Iraq’s new constitution rose this week as last minute talks between the country’s main groups produced changes that increased chances of Sunni support in an imminent referendum.
Iraqi leaders reached a breakthrough deal on last minute changes in the constitution Tuesday, and at least one Sunni Arab party said it would reverse its rejection of the document and urge its supporters to approve it in next weekend’s referendum, AP reported.
The constitution was meant to unite postwar Iraq, but the referendum could bring outright civil war closer if Sunni Arabs are left feeling alienated and disenfranchised.
The Sunni insurgency has escalated its attacks in the run up to the referendum, killing hundreds in suicide bombings that many believe are intended to trigger sectarian conflict. Scores have died this week.
A rash of abductions and killings of Sunnis and Shiites by gunmen believed to be from the other community have also been reported.
The deal this week boosts the chances for a constitution that Shiite and Kurdish leaders support and the United States has been eager to see approved in Saturday’s vote to avert months more of political turmoil, delaying plans to start a withdrawal of US forces.
US officials have pushed the three days of negotiations between Shiite and Kurdish leaders in the government and Sunni Arab officials, that concluded with marathon talks at the house of President Jalal Talabani late Tuesday.
The sides agreed to a measure stating that if the draft constitution is passed, the next parliament will be able to consider amendments to it that would then be put to a new referendum next year, AP quoted Shiite and Sunni officials as saying.
There was no agreement, however, about precisely how the constitution might be amended, leaving the Sunni minority still at risk of being disappointed in next year’s negotiations, Reuters reported.
However a top Sunni negotiator, Ayad al-Samarraie of the Iraqi Islamic Party, said that if the current parliament approves the measure, “we will stop the campaign rejecting the constitution and we will call on Sunni Arabs to vote yes.”
Some other major Sunni parties were not present at the negotiations and it was not clear if they too would be willing to reverse their “no” campaigns.
But the announcement was the first break in the ranks of Sunni Arab leaders, who have been campaigning hard to defeat the constitution at the polls.
The central addition allows the next parliament, which will be formed in Dec. 15 elections, to form a commission that will have four months to consider changes to the constitution. The changes would be approved by the entire parliament, then a referendum would be held two months later.
Sunni Arabs are hoping to have a stronger representation in the next parliament and want to make major amendments to the constitution, particularly to water down the provisions for federalism, which Shiites and Kurds strongly support.
Iraqi officials expect Sunnis, who boycotted a January election that then sapped their power to influence negotiations on the constitution in parliament, to take part in large numbers in the election expected on December 15.
The other additions to the constitution include a statement stressing Iraqi unity and another states that the Arabic language should be used in the Kurdistan region, along with Kurdish - issues important to the Sunni Arabs.
Iraqi officials preparing for the vote announced that the first ballots in the referendum would be cast on Thursday as early polling is permitted at hospitals and detention centers.
While Sunnis are a majority in at least three provinces, they are not expected to be able to raise enough votes to defeat the charter. If they fail to do so, that may end up fuelling the insurgency raging across the country for more than two years.
Iraqi leaders reached a breakthrough deal on last minute changes in the constitution Tuesday, and at least one Sunni Arab party said it would reverse its rejection of the document and urge its supporters to approve it in next weekend’s referendum, AP reported.
The constitution was meant to unite postwar Iraq, but the referendum could bring outright civil war closer if Sunni Arabs are left feeling alienated and disenfranchised.
The Sunni insurgency has escalated its attacks in the run up to the referendum, killing hundreds in suicide bombings that many believe are intended to trigger sectarian conflict. Scores have died this week.
A rash of abductions and killings of Sunnis and Shiites by gunmen believed to be from the other community have also been reported.
The deal this week boosts the chances for a constitution that Shiite and Kurdish leaders support and the United States has been eager to see approved in Saturday’s vote to avert months more of political turmoil, delaying plans to start a withdrawal of US forces.
US officials have pushed the three days of negotiations between Shiite and Kurdish leaders in the government and Sunni Arab officials, that concluded with marathon talks at the house of President Jalal Talabani late Tuesday.
The sides agreed to a measure stating that if the draft constitution is passed, the next parliament will be able to consider amendments to it that would then be put to a new referendum next year, AP quoted Shiite and Sunni officials as saying.
There was no agreement, however, about precisely how the constitution might be amended, leaving the Sunni minority still at risk of being disappointed in next year’s negotiations, Reuters reported.
However a top Sunni negotiator, Ayad al-Samarraie of the Iraqi Islamic Party, said that if the current parliament approves the measure, “we will stop the campaign rejecting the constitution and we will call on Sunni Arabs to vote yes.”
Some other major Sunni parties were not present at the negotiations and it was not clear if they too would be willing to reverse their “no” campaigns.
But the announcement was the first break in the ranks of Sunni Arab leaders, who have been campaigning hard to defeat the constitution at the polls.
The central addition allows the next parliament, which will be formed in Dec. 15 elections, to form a commission that will have four months to consider changes to the constitution. The changes would be approved by the entire parliament, then a referendum would be held two months later.
Sunni Arabs are hoping to have a stronger representation in the next parliament and want to make major amendments to the constitution, particularly to water down the provisions for federalism, which Shiites and Kurds strongly support.
Iraqi officials expect Sunnis, who boycotted a January election that then sapped their power to influence negotiations on the constitution in parliament, to take part in large numbers in the election expected on December 15.
The other additions to the constitution include a statement stressing Iraqi unity and another states that the Arabic language should be used in the Kurdistan region, along with Kurdish - issues important to the Sunni Arabs.
Iraqi officials preparing for the vote announced that the first ballots in the referendum would be cast on Thursday as early polling is permitted at hospitals and detention centers.
While Sunnis are a majority in at least three provinces, they are not expected to be able to raise enough votes to defeat the charter. If they fail to do so, that may end up fuelling the insurgency raging across the country for more than two years.
