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Iraq Delays Parliament Session On Constitution


Members of the constitutional committee at a press conference last week (file photo) 15 August 2005 -- Reports from Iraq say a special session of parliament to consider the text of a draft constitution has been delayed.

It wasn't clear from the reports how long the delay would be, though some reported it to be a few hours long. Today was the deadline for parliament to vote on the text.

Representatives from Iraq's three major groups -- Sunni and Shi'ite Arabs, and Kurds -- have been working hard to iron out differences in the draft. The main sticking points reportedly involve how much autonomy the various groups will get and the role of Islam in society.

Once the text is approved by parliament it must then be ratified by the general public in a referendum set for October.

(AFP/AP/CNN)

See also: Iraq: Draft Constitution Due Today, But Will It Be Ready?

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