Wrangling Not Yet Over on Iraqi Charter

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BAGHDAD, Oct. 3 -- Two weeks before Iraqis vote on a new constitution, with millions of copies already circulating for voters to study, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad is leading a drive for major changes in the charter to try to win crucial Sunni Arab support, according to Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds involved in the last-ditch negotiations.

Khalilzad in recent days agreed to take six Sunni demands to Shiite and Kurdish leaders for intensified negotiations. The demands for changes included some that Sunnis hope would keep political power and natural resources under the control of Iraq's traditionally strong central government, Nasser Janabi, a lead Sunni negotiator, said Monday.

"The six demands are our last suggestions," Janabi said. "We cannot give up any more rights. If they agree on these demands, the marginalized group will take another, positive position on the constitution."

Iraqi bloggers joked that the constitution should be stored on a PowerPoint presentation to make changes easier.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/03/AR2005100301718.html?sub=AR

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1. Less then two weeks left and they are still debating

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2. Polls

68% against the federalism provision in the Constitution

http://www.almendhar.com/english_6669/news.aspx
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yet, most Iraqis say they will vote for it, because they think they will be able to change it in the future.


The poll of 3,625 Iraqis, conducted Sept. 14 to 19, showed 79 percent in favor of the draft constitution and 8 percent opposed. The remainder did not respond. The polling by the Iraqi Center for Development and International Dialogue -- a nonprofit organization funded partially by the United Nations -- indicated that the referendum was headed for passage

"The part that surprised me was the percentage of supporters for the referendum. I didn't expect that," said Mr. Hafedh, who was minister of planning under interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. Although support for the constitution was particularly high in the northern Kurdish areas and southern regions dominated by Shi'ites, Mr. Hafedh said it topped 50 percent even in central provinces known as the heartland of Sunni unrest -- a sign, he said, that the Sunni-Shi'ite split is not as wide as many fear.

"This is exaggerated by political elites who are seeking power and by Western media and analysts," Mr. Hafedh said. "If you go down to the streets, you can't tell who is Sunni and who is Shi'ite. We are all mixed."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20051005-121416-7670r_page2.htm