Iraq Constitution Talks Postponed By Sandstorm

A severe sandstorm raged in Baghdad this morning 8 August 2005 -- An urgent meeting --> /featuresarticle/2005/08/8fc923ee-3229-4ce8-b560-adaaef7cf836.html of senior Iraqi leaders to discuss finalizing the constitution has been postponed because a sandstorm has hit Baghdad.

A statement from the office of President Jalal Talabani said the meeting has been delayed until 9 August because of bad weather.

It said the negotiations would continue over the subsequent days in order to reach a consensus on the constitution, before forwarding the draft to parliament on 15 August.

The sandstorm already on 7 August prevented Kurdish leader Mas'ud Barzani from flying to the capital, where visibility has been reduced to a few meters.

(AFP)