Iraq constitution on track, but not end to violence [View All]

[ECH1969]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - In a month, Iraq should have a constitution, meeting a deadline set as part of a U.S.-backed timetable for its transition from occupation to independence.

Three months ago, after it had taken 12 weeks just to form a government, many doubted the Aug. 15 target for the draft constitution could be met; long, bitter wrangling had dented hopes raised by an election held, on schedule, on Jan. 30.

Now, few doubt that some form of draft constitution will appear more or less on time -- even though the parliamentary committee working on it has not, as it once suggested, unveiled a preliminary text by July 15.

Washington and London are keen for domestic reasons to start pulling out troops next year. They face a dilemma of appeasing Sunnis demanding an end to occupation while refusing to yield to violence: "We're telling them, the quicker they end the insurgency, the quicker we're out of here," a diplomat said.

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