Experts criticise Iraq's draft constitution

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BAGHDAD - The draft constitution is shoddy and falls short of serving the interests of all Iraqis, experts said on Wednesday, with one analyst likening the charter to “rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic”.

“The document is shoddy and badly written,” said Toby Dodge, Iraq analyst at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, before parliament in Baghdad is due to vote on the charter Thursday.

“But drafting a constitution for Iraq is like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic with the country slipping toward insurgency,” Dodge added, amid continued disagreement among the countries’ political and religious groups.

A draft of the basic law was put to the national assembly Monday, but sticking points remain, notably over a federal system, the standing of members of the former ruling Baath party, and distribution of power in the executive.