[JURIST] AFP is reporting that Sunni leaders have announced a compromise with their Shiite and Krd colleagues on Sunni representation on the parliamentary committee charged with drafting Iraq's new permanent constitution. Under the compromise, the Sunnis will get 15 new seats on the committee with full voting rights, and 10 new seats as consultants. They originally had only two of 55 seats, and had threatened to boycott the constitutional process and ask for UN arbitration [JURIST report] if they were not given more representation. The Shiite majority objected to their demands [JURIST report], and the groups haggled over numbers [JURIST report]. The drafting committee now faces an August 15 deadline for crafting the new national charter, although the interim Transitional Administrative Law does provide for a six-month postponement if necessary. AFP has more.

10:27 AM ET – Technically, the 15 new Sunni voting members will combine with the 55 existing voting members to form a 70-member body operating by consensus, decisions of which will then be passed back to the 55-member body of elected parliamentarians for ratification. AP has more.