Iraqi Public Mulls Constitution

"(IWPR) - Survey reveals wide-ranging public views towards key constitutional issues.

By Raghad Ali in Baghdad (ICR No. 140, 06-Sep-05)
Iraqis appear to have mixed feelings about key elements of the draft constitution, a new survey conducted by a coalition of non-governmental organisations has found.

The Civil Alliance for Free Elections, made up of 76 NGOs, conducted its study during more than 1,000 workshops - between July and August - attended by 43,000 Iraqis of different religious groups and ethnicities in all of the country’s 18 governorates.

“Iraqi people were eager to get to grips with the issues concerning the constitution,” said Hana Hamud, one of the trainers in the workshop. “Despite the security situation, the attendance and level of debate was high.”

Iraqis will have a chance to express their opinion on the draft constitution - approved by parliament on August 28 - in an October 15 referendum. If two-thirds of voters in three of Iraq’s governorates disapprove, the constitution will fail."
The Kurdistani