Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) "Today is a historic day. I am confident that there will be a consensus on the constitution on the day of the vote," Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said during a joint news conference with Vice President Ghazi al Yawar, National Assembly Speaker Hajim al Hasani, both Sunni Arab, and Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, a Shiite who heads the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the country's main Shiite party. The accord between representatives of Iraq's three main ethno-religious groups comes just a few days before the October 15 on the country's new constitution.
Last night the Iraqi Islamic Party urged its supporters to vote Yes in the referendum. The announcement removes some doubts from what is taking place. Sunnis had been the great question mark in the ongoing political process because most of them oppose federalism as envisaged in the new constitutional charter and intended to vote against.
"There was an agreement and we are calling for a 'yes' vote," Islamic Party spokesman Ayad Sammarai said. He added that other Sunni groups like Ahl al Sunna and Waqf also back the deal.
Under the last-minute agreement a panel will be created to propose amendments to the charter after elections for a new National Assembly in December. The panel will be appointed within four months of the latter's swearing in. Amendments will be eventually submitted to voters in another referendum.
In the talks leading up to the last-minute deal, some Sunni parties did not budge from their opposition to the Charter and said they are still urging their supporters to vote No.
However, the deal does indicate that important segments of the Sunni community want to come on board the political process that is laying the groundwork for the new Iraq.
A high turnout among Sunnis and a large majority in favour of the constitution would legitimise later steps.
