Iraq poised to become an explicitly Islamic state

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http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/iraq-poised-to-become-an-explicitly-islamic-state/2005/07/27/1122143906464.html?oneclick=true

Iraq poised to become an explicitly Islamic state

The committee drafting Iraq's new constitution has summoned religious, ethnic and political bloc leaders to an emergency summit this week in an attempt to resolve some of the tougher issues in reshaping the country.

Less than three weeks before Iraq's National Assembly is due to approve a new constitution, the US appears increasingly concerned about the document and is trying to influence its provisions on women's rights, federalism and the distribution of oil revenue.

The US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, arrived in Baghdad on an unannounced visit yesterday and urged Iraqis to ensure they completed the draft constitution before the August 15 deadline. "We don't want any delays," he said. "Now's the time to get on with it."


A draft of the constitution published in the Al-Sabah newspaper on Tuesday outlines an explicitly Islamic state with a strong Shiite identity and less progressive laws for women than existed under Saddam Hussein.


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1. kick, for bringing Democracy to Itaq!