[Mb-civic] Iraqis Fail To Meet Constitution Deadline - Washington Post

[William Swiggard]

<>Iraqis Fail To Meet Constitution Deadline
Lawmakers Approve Seven-Day Extension

By Ellen Knickmeyer and Omar Fekeiki
Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, August 16, 2005; Page A01

BAGHDAD, Aug. 15 -- Iraqi factional leaders failed to meet Monday's 
deadline for drafting a constitution in an often-rancorous debate that 
appeared to have widened rifts among Shiite, Sunni, Kurdish and secular 
groups.

Unable to resolve differences on such major issues as the role of 
religion by the midnight deadline, political leaders turned to Iraq's 
transitional parliament for a one-week extension, winning unanimous 
agreement with just 23 minutes to spare. The United States had pushed 
the deadline hard as it eyed troop withdrawals.

Iraqi officials presented the extension as a success. They smiled and 
shook hands among themselves and with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, 
who strolled on the floor of parliament ahead of the late-night vote.

"This to my mind is real democracy, and proves to the world that Iraq is 
writing its own constitution," Hachim Hasani, Chairman of the National 
Assembly, told members of parliament.

<>"Efforts have been made to reach agreements, but this is a historic 
issue that needs more study," President Jalal Talabani told lawmakers. 
"We need more time."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/15/AR2005081500169.html?referrer=email 

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