Officials Hold Talks on Iraq Constitution

"BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A week after the draft constitution was declared final, discreet talks were under way to refine language in a bid to win Sunni approval and ease fears of Iraq's Arab neighbors that the charter will loosen the country's ties to the Arab world, officials said Friday.

As negotiators discussed possible changes, thousands of Shiite supporters and Sunni opponents of the document took to the streets Friday to express their views ahead of the decisive Oct. 15 referendum.

Sunni Arabs rejected the charter that was approved Aug. 28 by the Shiites and Kurds, who dominate parliament and government. The Sunnis cited a number of points, including federalism, references to Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated party and the description of Iraq as a Muslim - but not Arab - country.

Sunni opposition threatens a divisive political fight in the run-up to the referendum, sabotaging Washington's hopes that the constitution would serve to unite Iraq's population, lure the minority away from the insurgency and hasten the day U.S. and other foreign soldiers could go home."
MyWay