Iraq's Sunnis get 25 seats on constitution panel

Compiled by Daily Star staff
Friday, June 10, 2005

Mr. Humam Hammoudi is president of the committee to write the constitution. There are 55 people appointed by the Parliament so far. Two of them are Sunnis.

President Talibani is in favor of adding 25 more Sunnis, while PM Jaafari is in favor of adding 14. The Parliament has agreed to 13, but may be persuaded to add more. Both the president and PM have agreed it is up to the Parliament to decide.

Some Sunnis have agreed it is time to lay down their arms and become part of the political process, so they do not get left behind. This is a good step forward.

There was a team of EU members who stopped by unannounced. They believe it is important to keep the August 15, 2005 deadline for the Constitution to be written. They also agree it is important to include the Sunni represention in the writing.

Update: The Chicago Sun Times also has an article on this new effort by the Majority Shiias.