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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch

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To: stockman_scott who wrote (39051)	3/8/2004 11:35:41 AM
From: T L Comiskey	Read Replies (1) of 89467

Sistani: Iraq Interim Constitution Is 'Obstacle' BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq (news - web sites)'s most influential Shi'ite Muslim cleric said Monday that a newly signed interim constitution made drafting a permanent charter for the country harder. "This (law) places obstacles to arriving at a permanent constitution for the country that preserves its unity and the rights of its people, in all their ethnicities and sects," said a statement from Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who has immense influence with Shi'ites who are 60 percent of Iraq's population. He also insisted that only an elected body should sign off on further legislation in Iraq. "Any law prepared for the transitional period will not have legitimacy until it is approved by the elected national assembly," the statement said. The cleric's ruling was likely to take some of the shine off completing the interim constitution for Iraq's U.S. occupiers, who plan to hand sovereignty back to Iraqis on June 30 and regard the document as a milestone in their plans for doing so. The reclusive Sistani has been a thorn in the side of officials of the U.S.-led occupation authority. After an earlier intervention from Sistani, the coalition was forced to accelerate the timetable for planned elections. An elaborate signing ceremony for the interim constitution Friday was canceled after some Shi'ite members of Iraq's Governing Council objected to some clauses, including one that effectively gave Kurds a veto over the permanent constitution if it failed to enshrine autonomy they enjoy in northern Iraq. The dissenters agreed to sign the document Monday after holding talks with each other and Sistani at the weekend, in which they indicated the cleric had consented to going ahead with the interim constitution rather than being seen as a spoiler.

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