Sunnis want UN to ensure fair Iraq constitution vote News
Sunnis want UN to ensure fair Iraq constitution vote

[JURIST] Sunni Arab negotiators Tuesday requested that the UN guarantee a fair referendum on the draft Iraqi constitution [English translation, PDF; JURIST news archive], while expressing frustration and rejecting the latest version of the charter. Sunni negotiator Hussein al Falluji said he and others had spoken with Ashraf Qazi, UN Special Envoy to Iraq, to ask for an assurance that the voting process will be conducted in a fair manner "without any forgery or manipulation." Falluji stressed, "If the Iraqi people say 'Yes', then we want to believe that it was the Iraqi people's choice, and if they say 'No', we don't want others to doubt it." While the vote on the Iraqi constitution is scheduled to take place on October 15 [JURIST report], some Sunni leaders have said they will conduct a "no" campaign unless requested amendments are made to the document, specifically including the issue of federalism. Sunni opposition to the draft could prove fatal since a two-thirds "no" vote in three provinces will veto the constitution and Sunni Arabs make up a majority of the population in four provinces. Reuters has more.

Meanwhile, members of the constitutional drafting committee [official website] were still holding last-minute discussions Tuesday regarding amendments proposed by Sunni negotiators. The amendments relate to a contentious draft article opposed by Sunnis saying that only the Arab people of Iraq are part of the Arab nation [JURIST report], provisions on control of Iraq's water resources, and the sharing of power between the prime minister and his two deputies. An announcement on a revised draft is expected to be made Wednesday morning. AFP has more.