Iraqi Shi'ites Demonstrate In Favor Of Constitution

Iraqi's National Assembly voting on the constitution last month in Baghdad 2 September 2005 -- Several thousand Iraqi Shi'ites took to the streets of the main southern city of Al-Basrah today to demonstrate support for the draft constitution.

The demonstration came after a rallying call from a powerful Shi'ite group, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI).

The march was one of the first large demonstrations in favor of the draft constitution, which is opposed by many of Iraq's Sunni Arab minority.

SCIRI, led by Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, is Iraq's largest Shi'ite party.

(AFP)