Iraqi parliament to discuss constitution
fesnobee/AP: A special session of Iraq's parliament was called Wednesday to discuss a breakthrough on the constitution reached by Shiite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish powerbrokers, reviving hopes of winning Sunni support for the charter in this weekend's referendum.
But the National Assembly could have trouble forming a quorum. A monthlong legislative recess began Monday, and many legislators have returned to their provinces for Saturday's referendum vote and to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan with their families.
Also Wednesday, an explosion shut down an oil pipeline near the northern city of Beiji, a police official said.
The pipeline transports oil from the northern oil center of Kirkuk to refineries in Beiji, from where it is pumped via the country's export pipeline to the port of Ceyhan, Turkey.
Meanwhile, It also was not clear whether the lawmakers who do attend the session would be asked to approve a final version of the draft constitution incorporating Tuesday's last-minute compromises, or simply to discuss it. Either way, the legislative session could simply be a formality since the lawmakers generally follow their party leaders.
"We do not know whether we will be voting on the deal reached by the leaders of the main parties, or (are) just being informed about it," said Shiite lawmaker Khalid al-Atiyah. "The special session has been scheduled to begin at 7 o'clock tonight to give lawmakers in the provinces the time they need to return to Baghdad," he said in an interview.
To improve security for the referendum, a four-day national curfew begins on Thursday, and a holiday has been called for the vote on Saturday.
When parliament met last Monday in an effort to strip former defense minister Hazem Shaalan of his immunity from prosecution over the alleged disappearance or misappropriation of $1 billion in military procurement funds, too few legislators showed up to form a quorum.
In any case, the draft constitution already has been printed by the United Nations and millions of copies are being distributed to the public for the vote. Therefore, new additions cannot be included and would probably have to be announced to potential voters in the Iraqi press and on television. Read more
db: It all looks pretty confused. If there was still scope for further negotiation why did they rush to print with millions of copies of the document beforehand? Answer: US agenda, US needs, US failing strategy.
But the National Assembly could have trouble forming a quorum. A monthlong legislative recess began Monday, and many legislators have returned to their provinces for Saturday's referendum vote and to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan with their families.
Also Wednesday, an explosion shut down an oil pipeline near the northern city of Beiji, a police official said.
The pipeline transports oil from the northern oil center of Kirkuk to refineries in Beiji, from where it is pumped via the country's export pipeline to the port of Ceyhan, Turkey.
Meanwhile, It also was not clear whether the lawmakers who do attend the session would be asked to approve a final version of the draft constitution incorporating Tuesday's last-minute compromises, or simply to discuss it. Either way, the legislative session could simply be a formality since the lawmakers generally follow their party leaders.
"We do not know whether we will be voting on the deal reached by the leaders of the main parties, or (are) just being informed about it," said Shiite lawmaker Khalid al-Atiyah. "The special session has been scheduled to begin at 7 o'clock tonight to give lawmakers in the provinces the time they need to return to Baghdad," he said in an interview.
To improve security for the referendum, a four-day national curfew begins on Thursday, and a holiday has been called for the vote on Saturday.
When parliament met last Monday in an effort to strip former defense minister Hazem Shaalan of his immunity from prosecution over the alleged disappearance or misappropriation of $1 billion in military procurement funds, too few legislators showed up to form a quorum.
In any case, the draft constitution already has been printed by the United Nations and millions of copies are being distributed to the public for the vote. Therefore, new additions cannot be included and would probably have to be announced to potential voters in the Iraqi press and on television. Read more
db: It all looks pretty confused. If there was still scope for further negotiation why did they rush to print with millions of copies of the document beforehand? Answer: US agenda, US needs, US failing strategy.
posted by exoplanet at 1:56 PM
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