Iraqis reach deal on text of constitution
Basic law plans polls by January 2005
AP, AFP, Baghdad
Iraqi politicians agreed early yesterday on an interim constitution with a wide ranging bill of rights and a single chief executive, bridging a gulf between members over the role of Islam in the future government. The new constitution, a key aspect of the United States' plans to turn over power June 30, will be signed by top American administrator L. Paul Bremer tomorrow, after the Shiite Muslim religious holiday of Ashoura ends, a coalition official said on condition of anonymity. The document "strikes a balance between the role of Islam and the bill of individual rights and democratic principles," the official said. He also said the charter sets a goal, not a quota, to have at least 25 percent of the national assembly made up of women, adding that council members unanimously approved the document. The deal came two days after a deadline for finishing the document a key part of the US plan for handing over power to the Iraqis on June 30. Saturday's deadline had been set by the Americans and agreed to by the Governing Council in November. When it passed with the council still deeply divided, Bremer helped organise marathon talks. Besides a comprehensive bill of rights, including protections for free speech, religious expression, assembly and due process, it also spells out the executive branch. Under the terms of the document, Iraq will have a president with two deputies, a prime minister and a cabinet. Council member Mahmoud Othman, a Sunni Kurd, said leaders will go over the document's English and Arabic text to "make sure every word is there" before it is signed. "They believe this is a document that is historic, not only for Iraq, but for the entire region," the official said. The basic law does not tackle the ongoing wrangling of how power will be transferred from the US-led occupiers to an Iraqi government by July. That measure will be handled in a forthcoming annex, the official said. Iraq's temporary constitution states that direct elections for a new government will be held if possible by the end of the year and no later than the end of January 2005, a coalition source said yesterday. "By end of '04, beginning of '05," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, just hours after the text had been finalised following three days and nights of political wrangling by Iraqi leaders.
| 
