'End of the road': Iraqi factions deadlocked

[DinarMan]

Fate of constitution is likely now in the hands of voters.

By Alex Rodriguez
CHICAGO TRIBUNE

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A final bid by Shiite negotiators for a compromise to end the impasse with Sunni Arabs over Iraq's draft constitution failed late Friday, and it was becoming clear that the talks are hopelessly deadlocked.
Government spokesman Laith Kubba told Al-Arabiya television that negotiations had reached a standstill. "This is the end of the road," he said

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050827/NEWS07/508270380

[big time]

Fate of constitution is likely now in the hands of voters.

By Alex Rodriguez
CHICAGO TRIBUNE

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A final bid by Shiite negotiators for a compromise to end the impasse with Sunni Arabs over Iraq's draft constitution failed late Friday, and it was becoming clear that the talks are hopelessly deadlocked.
Government spokesman Laith Kubba told Al-Arabiya television that negotiations had reached a standstill. "This is the end of the road," he said

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050827/NEWS07/508270380
Extremelly old news. This is mainly from Friday.

[DinarMan]

August 27, 2005

BY ROBERT H. REID
ASSOCIATED PRESS

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's Shi'ite-dominated constitution committee will submit an amended draft charter to parliament this weekend despite opposition from minority Sunni Arabs, negotiators said today.

The chairman of the committee, Sheikh Humam Hammoudi, a Shi'ite, said "there has been an agreement on the differences including the federalism issue. This will give guarantees for the Sunnis."

But Sunni negotiators said they didn't accept the revised document, and one of them, Saleh al-Mutlaq, called on Iraqis to reject it in the Oct. 15 referendum, warning of a "terrifying and dark future awaiting Iraq."

http://www.freep.com/news/nw/iraq27e_20050827.htm

[DinarMan]

Saturday, August 27, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq's Shiite and Kurdish leaders decided Friday to send an amended constitution to parliament this weekend, even though Sunni Arab negotiators said they rejected the latest document. Bypassing Sunnis would be a blow to U.S. efforts to lure them away from the insurgency.

Unless reversed, the decision, announced by several Shiite officials after daylong negotiations, would set the stage for a bitter fight across the country. Shiites and Kurds will encourage their people to vote for the charter in the Oct. 15 referendum with Sunnis lobbying just as strongly against it.

In Washington, U.S. officials insisted negotiations were on track and that talks at some level were still ongoing before dawn Saturday. However, Iraqi government spokesman Laith Kubba said the two-month negotiations were hopelessly deadlocked

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2005/08/27/news/national_world/5fc09da4aa5563ab8625706a000fa534.txt

[DinarMan]

August 27. 2005 12:00AM

New York Times

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 26 - With Iraq's new constitution still in limbo, thousands of Sunni Arabs rallied in central and northern Iraq on Friday to protest the proposed draft.

In Kirkuk, in the north, more than 2,000 Sunnis marched in the streets after Friday Prayer, chanting "No to federalism," "Iraq is the home of all" and "Baathists are loyal Iraqis." In Baquba, a largely Sunni city northeast of Baghdad, several thousand people marched, some carrying pictures of Saddam Hussein, whose Baath Party kept the Sunni minority in power for years.

http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050827/ZNYT/508270345/1002/Business

[DinarMan]

Extremelly old news. This is mainly from Friday.

24 hour extension was set yesterday, looks like nothing was accomplished

August 26, 2005

Hopes high for result on Iraq’s constitution

Negotiations on the wording of a draft constitution for Iraq did not conclude yesterday as planned and will continue for another day, said Hajim al-Hassani, the speaker

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/45772.html

[DinarMan]

Saturday 27 August 2005, 14:57 Makka Time, 11:57 GMT

The head of Iraq's parliament has announced that the Shia and Kurdish factions have reached agreement on Sunni Arab proposals and will forward an amended text to the National Assembly on Sunday.

But the Sunnis denounced the text and called on people to reject it in the referendum.

The announcement by Parliament Speaker Hajim al-Hassani on Saturday and the statements by the Sunnis signalled an end to the intense negotiations and their failure to produce a draft accepted by all factions.

That sets the stage for an intense battle over the next two months by forces supporting and opposing the draft in the run-up to the 15 October referendum.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9D805233-17FC-4999-9056-AE78E896C0FC.htm