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| Iraq security chief warns of civil war |
| August 20 2005 at 12:16PM |
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By Michael Georgy and Luke Baker
But underscoring deep divisions in Iraqi politics, several thousand supporters of a Shi'a cleric Moqtada al-Sadr marched through a district of the capital Baghdad denouncing federalism, saying it would rip Iraq apart. Continues Below ↓ Politicians are struggling to overcome sensitive issues such as federalism to meet an extended 22 August deadline for presenting a draft constitution to parliament. In Washington, the State Department said US ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad was involved in "intensive diplomacy" to help get the constitution drafted before the deadline expires on Monday. "We are working with the different groups involved in this process to help facilitate compromise and we are being asked to provide ideas and suggestions and we are doing that," said a State Department spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "He's constantly talking to a lot of people in different combinations, small groups, big groups, looking for common ground and reaching across party lines," he added. Kurds want to expand autonomy in their de facto state in the north, some Shi'as are pushing for their own region in the south, and Sunni Arabs are fiercely opposed to federalism. January's election boycott left Sunnis with little representation in parliament and, as a result, limited influence in negotiations over the charter. But Iraq's government, led by Shi'as and Kurds, wants to draw Sunnis into politics in a bid to defuse the Sunni insurgency so the minority sect has some leverage. Differences emerging among Shi'as could further complicate efforts to strike a deal. "Federalism is very good for the Sunnis as well. Just imagine we have three provinces in the (Sunni region) triangle coming together in one region and that region enjoys all the rights of Kurdistan for example," said Rubaie, a member of the Shi'ite Dawa party, part of the ruling coalition. "It is a federal system we are after and I think this is the only insurance policy for the unity of Iraq." Supporters of Sadr, who has led two uprisings against US and Iraqi forces, gathered in one of their largest protests in recent months to reject federalism. "No! No! to division," "Yes! Yes! to unity" chanted the crowds as they marched through the poor Sadr City neighbourhood of northeastern Baghdad and Khadamiya and Bayaa, two other mainly Shi'ite districts. Facing relentless suicide bombings, assassinations and kidnappings, Iraqi leaders are banking on a constitution and elections planned for December to stabilise the country but sectarian tensions are fracturing politics. Rubaie shares the view of top Shi'a leaders like Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who suggested Shi'as should carve out their own federal region in southern Iraq. Friday's demonstration seemed to show that many poor, urban Shi'as - Sadr's major support base - disagree with Hakim's vision of a federal Shi'a state. "Moqtada al-Sadr's concern is that Iraq must be united, not divided," said Fatah al-Sheikh, a Shi'ite member of parliament who is closely allied to Sadr and led one of the marches. Sadr has maintained a low profile since his Mehdi Army militia fought US troops in the southern city of Najaf last year. Sunnis, once dominant under Saddam Hussein, want a central government with tight control over oil resources near Kurdish areas in the north and in the Shi'a south. Muslim preachers stepped up a campaign to involve Sunni Arabs in Shi'a-dominated politics Friday, telling worshippers it was their duty to vote on Iraq's constitution in an October referendum. "I call on you to register your names in order to vote over the constitution and in the elections," Abdel-Sattar al-Jumaily told worshippers in Falluja, a Sunni city west of Baghdad. "We face a big challenge and need votes against the constitution if it does not take into account our Islamic and Arab feelings," said Jumaily, who accused the authorities of conspiring to keep Sunni voter numbers down.
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