H
Happy29
Guest
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Sept. 30) (AP) - Iraqis are unlikely to be able to adopt a new constitution within six months as proposed by Secretary of State Colin Powell, the spokesman of the Iraqi Governing Council said Tuesday.
Powell laid down the proposed six-month timetable last Thursday, saying the United States will not relinquish power until a democratically elected Iraqi government is in place.
"We all want to see a constitution as soon as possible," council spokesman Entifadh Qanbar told reporters. "However, there are two problems. Number one: we'd like to see this constitution, or the ideas of this constitution, to take its sufficient or adequate time to be discussed among the Iraqi people. Then when there is a referendum, when the people are going to vote on it, or against it, they will have a great clear idea."
Qanbar also said it would take time for Iraqis to "coalesce" on issues regarding the framework of a new democratic Iraq.
"I don't think six months will be sufficient, but we must wait and see," he said. "This is up to the constitutional committee and the events. A lot of times deadlines do not necessarily stay as is, and reality drive what's happening."
A 25-member committee has been discussing how to draft a new constitution for weeks. However, major issues such as the role of Islam and power relationships among the major ethnic and culture groups have complicated the discussions.
Powell laid down the proposed six-month timetable last Thursday, saying the United States will not relinquish power until a democratically elected Iraqi government is in place.
"We all want to see a constitution as soon as possible," council spokesman Entifadh Qanbar told reporters. "However, there are two problems. Number one: we'd like to see this constitution, or the ideas of this constitution, to take its sufficient or adequate time to be discussed among the Iraqi people. Then when there is a referendum, when the people are going to vote on it, or against it, they will have a great clear idea."
Qanbar also said it would take time for Iraqis to "coalesce" on issues regarding the framework of a new democratic Iraq.
"I don't think six months will be sufficient, but we must wait and see," he said. "This is up to the constitutional committee and the events. A lot of times deadlines do not necessarily stay as is, and reality drive what's happening."
A 25-member committee has been discussing how to draft a new constitution for weeks. However, major issues such as the role of Islam and power relationships among the major ethnic and culture groups have complicated the discussions.