Arab League chief: Iraqi charter a "recipe for chaos"

kuna: The newly announced Iraqi charter is sloppy and certain extracts could be taken for "a recipe for chaos," Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa stated to the media Monday.

Talking to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) today, Moussa stressed he is worried about the consequences of the exclusion of certain components of Iraqi society in the constitution drafting process.This was in reference to Sunni statements expressing opposition to or reservations about the new charter that was announced yesterday. It also reflects Kurds' anxiety of being ignored in a state of an "exclusively Arab identity." However, the official said he is still optimistic this is "a start" and urged all parties to approve this document. "It is a 'draft' and, as such, could be amended still," he added.

While the Shiites and Kurds expressed approval of the draft, the representatives of the Sunnis yesterday issued a statement expressing opposition on certain articles which means the charter failed to get the consensus that would make it legal.

Furthermore and in the same statement, the Sunnis urged the United Nations, Arab League, and other international institutions to intervene and prevent ratification of the recently announced draft.

However, despite this position, the Sunnis have pledged not to boycott the political process and to actively participate in the December elections.

The current vote system means the Arab Sunnis could hamper approval of the constitution through a 'no' vote in the public referendum in regions where they are the majority. That would stop the document short of implementation. Link