UPDATE ~ Iraqi groups continue last-minute talks on proposed constitution

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UPDATE ~ Iraqi groups continue last-minute talks on proposed constitution

October 10, 2005 06:56:00 pm

[JURIST] Following up on an report earlier today in JURIST's Paper Chase, Shiite and Kurdish officials continued last-minute talks Monday with Sunni leaders trying to agree on revised consensus language for the proposed Iraqi constitution [JURIST news archive] to be voted on in an October 15th referendum [IECI fact sheet, PDF]. Some Sunni leaders insist that they will vote no to the referendum [JURIST report] in order to quash its approval with a two-thirds voting majority in three provinces, while others are calling for a nationwide boycott in an attempt to strip the text [JURIST document] of legitimacy. Among other points, the Sunni leaders oppose regional autonomy provisions, which they fear will keep Iraq's vast wealth of oil from the minority Sunnis. The parties expect to resume all-day talks on Tuesday. Reuters has more.

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