Splits emerge between Kurds and Shiites in Iraqi government

"BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Sharp divisions emerged Saturday between Iraq's ruling Kurdish and Shiite Muslim factions after Iraq's Kurdish president accused the Shiite prime minister of breaking coalition promises and overly dominating the government.

Kurdish officials warned they would consider pulling out of the government if their demands aren't met. That would cause the collapse of the government and add a new layer of political instability and fragmentation between Iraq's main communities.


The friction comes ahead of an Oct. 18 vote on a new constitution, which both the Kurds and Shiites support. But Iraq's Sunni Arab minority is trying to defeat the charter at the polls, fearing it will give too much power to the other two communities."
The Kurdistani