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Shiite cleric alsadr rejects constitution { January 2006 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-02-19T085405Z_01_GEO927507_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-SADR.xml&archived=False http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-02-19T085405Z_01_GEO927507_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-SADR.xml&archived=False Influential Iraqi cleric Sadr rejects constitution Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:54 AM ET BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has said he rejects the Iraqi constitution backed by his partners in the biggest parliamentary bloc, threatening a new crisis over one of the country's most explosive issues. "I reject this constitution which calls for sectarianism and there is nothing good in this constitution at all," he told Al Jazeera television late on Saturday. Sadr criticised federalism in the constitution, which is rejected by Iraq's Sunni Arabs who fear it will give Kurds and Shi'ites too much power and control over Iraq's oil resources. "If there is a democratic government in Iraq, nobody has the right to call for the establishment of federalism anywhere in Iraq whether it is the south, north, middle or any other part of Iraq," he said. Sadr, a former rebel leader who staged two revolts against U.S. and Iraqi troops, has emerged as a kingmaker in Iraqi politics and is a member of the Shi'ite alliance which won 128 of 275 seats in parliament in December 15 polls. His anti-constitution stand comes at a sensitive time when Iraqi politicians are only just starting formal talks on forming a new government more than two months after elections. The Shi'ites, who will have a majority in the new assembly, have already insisted their can be no major changes to the charter, which was approved in October and envisages a federal Iraq with considerable autonomy for the regions. Iraq's biggest Sunni political bloc has said it is committed to talks with Shi'ites and Kurds to form a government of national unity if its key demand on changing the constitution is met. A review of the Iraqi constitution is set to start some time after the new government and parliament is formed. © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.

100 thousand shiites protest new constitution Approved despite 2 sunni prinvinces overwheling no { October 25 2005 } Arab league says iraq constitution recipe for chaos { August 29 2005 } Ayatollah urges rejection of draft constitution Bush calls for democratic federalism in iraq Constitution distributed to iraqis amid attacks Constitution encourages private sector ownership Constitution forces modern market principals in iraq { September 15 2005 } Fallujah sees high sunni turnout First voters are prisoners in iraqi detention centers { October 14 2005 } Iraq attacks down on referendum day Iraq prepares for constitution vote { October 14 2005 } Iraq security chief warns of civil war without federalism Iraqi says constitution is sectarian { October 15 2005 } Iraqi women alarmed by new constitution Iraqi women lose most progressive rights in region { July 20 2005 } New iraq constitution forces american privitization Nineveh province polling stations closed Nineveh province sunnis cite voter fraud { October 23 2005 } October constitution most likely past { October 15 2005 } Shiite cleric alsadr rejects constitution { January 2006 } Shiites and kurds back charter sunnies dont Shiites grab for sunni oil in new iraqi constitution Shiites push ideas for iraq constitution { July 20 2005 } Sunnis drop constitution referendum boycott threat Sunnis party attacked after backing constitution Sunnis rally against iraq charter { August 26 2005 } Sunnis rejoin constitution process { July 25 2005 } Unusual votes spur fraud vote fraud questions US doesnt oppose islamic law based iraq constitution { August 22 2005 } Women lose rights given since 1959 in new constitution { July 26 2005 } Files Listed: 31

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