By John O'Neil
The New York Times, 11 January 2006
The leader of Iraq's most powerful party indicated today that his group would block substantive changes to the country's new constitution, despite a promise to Sunnis to consider amendments.
Last summer, as Sunni Arabs protested vehemently against the proposed constitution, the Shiite and Kurd leaders who dominated its drafting promised there would be a four-month window for amending the document following the formation of a new government.
But Abdul Azziz al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution, the most influential group in the ruling Shiite coalition, today said that "the first principle is not to change the essence of the constitution," according to The Associated Press.
"This constitution was endorsed by the Iraqi people," he said, during a speech in honor of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Mr. Hakim appeared to rule out in particular any change in the constitution's provisions allowing the creation of strong regional provinces, a point that had angered many Sunnis.
"It is our responsibility to form Baghdad provinces and southern Iraq provinces," Mr. Hakim said.
Any amendments would require two-thirds approval by the new Parliament.
Voting in the constitutional referendum in October was overwhelmingly along ethnic lines, with Kurds and Shiites supporting the plan and Sunnis rejecting it. Sunni leaders have complained that the provisions allowing the creation of strong provinces will lead to the dismemberment of the country, with Kurds and Shiites ruling autonomous areas that contain the vast majority of the nation's oil wealth.
Mr. Hakim's speech today followed tough statements he made last week in the wake of suicide bombs that killed more than 200 people over two days.
Mr. Hakim criticized the United States and Sunni parties that encouraged the insurgency. Responsibility for the attacks, he said, rested "on the multinational forces and the political powers that declared publicly their support for terrorism."
"Our people will not be patient for much longer with these dirty sectarian crimes," he said.
Mr. Hakim's criticism of the United States referred to recent pressure from the American forces to rein in the Iraqi security forces, which are under Shiite control. American officials have cited growing evidence that Shiite leaders have carried out a program of torture and assassination against Sunni Arabs.
Mr. Hakim's statement on the constitution comes at a delicate time, as negotiations continue over the formation of a government based on last month's parliamentary elections.
Even though final election results have not been posted, the Shiite and Kurdish groups who appear to hold a majority of seats have been negotiating to create a government of national unity, including Sunni politicians and secular Shiites.
Many Sunni leaders, as well as secular Shiites, charged after the December vote that there had been widespread fraud, a contention disputed by observers from the United Nations. In his speech today, Mr. Hakim called on Sunni politicians to stop complaining about the results and accept the election's outcome.
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Citation: John O'Neil. "Leading Shiite Says He Will Oppose Changes to Iraqi Charter," The New York Times, 11 January 2006.
Original URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/11/international/middleeast/11cnd-iraq.html
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