30 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Hundreds of Sunnis took to the streets of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit yesterday to protest against Iraq's draft constitution.
Sunnis fear federalism -- as proposed in the document -- will lead to the break-up of Iraq into a Kurdish north and a Shi'ite south, depriving the Sunnis of access to the country's oil resources.
The BBC on 29 August quoted Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa as describing the Iraqi draft constitution as "dangerous."
The United States, the EU, and the UN have welcomed the draft constitution.
One of Iraq's biggest Sunni parties said on 29 August there is still room for negotiation on the constitution. The moderate Iraqi Islamic Party said it might back the charter but urged changes to the text.
The draft constitution will be voted on in a national referendum scheduled for 15 October.
(Reuters)
For weekly news and analysis on Iraq, subscribe to "RFE/RL Iraq Report."
The BBC on 29 August quoted Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa as describing the Iraqi draft constitution as "dangerous."
The United States, the EU, and the UN have welcomed the draft constitution.
One of Iraq's biggest Sunni parties said on 29 August there is still room for negotiation on the constitution. The moderate Iraqi Islamic Party said it might back the charter but urged changes to the text.
The draft constitution will be voted on in a national referendum scheduled for 15 October.
(Reuters)
For weekly news and analysis on Iraq, subscribe to "RFE/RL Iraq Report."