Former 'Firebrand' cleric Sadr rejects constitution

reuters: Influential Iraqi cleric Sadr rejects constitution

Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr [??????**] has said he rejects the Iraqi constitution backed by his partners in the biggest parliamentary bloc, threatening a new crisis over one of the country's most explosive issues.

"I reject this constitution which calls for sectarianism and there is nothing good in this constitution at all," he told Al Jazeera television late on Saturday.

Sadr criticised federalism in the constitution, which is rejected by Iraq's Sunni Arabs who fear it will give Kurds and Shi'ites too much power and control over Iraq's oil resources.

"If there is a democratic government in Iraq, nobody has the right to call for the establishment of federalism anywhere in Iraq whether it is the south, north, middle or any other part of Iraq," he said.

Sadr, a former rebel leader who staged two revolts against U.S. and Iraqi troops, has emerged as a kingmaker in Iraqi politics and is a member of the Shi'ite alliance which won 128 of 275 seats in parliament in December 15 polls. Read more

db: ** I wasn't totally sure who was being discussed there - I mean 'Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr' could be anybody. No doubt this small mistake will be addressed in future reports and Reuters will revert to the universally accepted 'Firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr' - then maybe we will all know who is being referred to, and avoid unnecessary confusion.

update: 'Fiery cleric' is also acceptable