Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Arab leaders to call for constitution amendments in favour of Sunnis
Politics
(Gulf News) - Arab foreign ministers agreed yesterday to call for an amendment to Iraq's constitution to give Sunni Arabs a greater share of power in the war-ravaged country. "The ministers approved a call to Iraq to amend its constitution in order to boost the political process in that country," one of the ministers told AFP, requesting anonymity.
Arab states preparing for a summit in Riyadh tomorrow want to see the consitution changed to give Sunnis a greater share of political power and avoid a federal split of Iraq, the minister said. Iraq's once-ruling Sunni Arabs want an amendment of the constitution adopted in October 2005, fearing that the arrangement leaves their central regions without natural resources and Iraq's oil wealth in the hands of the governing Shiites and the autonomous Kurds. Their demand is backed by Sunni-dominated Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia which is hosting the summit.
Arab states preparing for a summit in Riyadh tomorrow want to see the consitution changed to give Sunnis a greater share of political power and avoid a federal split of Iraq, the minister said. Iraq's once-ruling Sunni Arabs want an amendment of the constitution adopted in October 2005, fearing that the arrangement leaves their central regions without natural resources and Iraq's oil wealth in the hands of the governing Shiites and the autonomous Kurds. Their demand is backed by Sunni-dominated Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia which is hosting the summit.
COMMENT: The Arab leaders know that the eyes of the world will be on Iraq tomorrow at the summit in Riyadh, so the pressure will be greater on the Iraqis. Leaders of predominantly Sunni countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Dubai, Oman and Jordan are concerned with the influence the predominantly Shia Iran has had on the current Iraqi government and would like to see a stronger Sunni power base. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Arab leaders, Iraqi constitution, Sunnis
