8.16.2005
Iraq Constitution Deadline Extended (CNN.com)
National assembly allows extra week for further negotiations
Tuesday, August 16, 2005; Posted: 12:36 a.m. EDT (04:36 GMT)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's National Assembly voted unanimously Monday to extend for a week the deadline for negotiators to agree on a draft of the country's new constitution.
The committee drafting the document asked for an extension after it failed to reach a compromise by Monday's deadline after months of talks. The new deadline is August 22.
Without the extension, the government would have dissolved, requiring new elections in December and starting the process again -- a prospect the United States has strongly opposed.
The assembly voted after more than five hours of delay and about a half-hour before the midnight deadline.
U.S. leaders were quick to praise the Iraqi efforts and express confidence in the outcome, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President Bush making similar comments.
"We are witnessing democracy at work in Iraq," Rice told reporters, saying the Iraqis had made "substantial progress" on difficult issues. Bush issued a statement applauding the "heroic efforts" of the Iraqis as "a tribute to democracy."
(More ... CNN.com - Iraq constitution deadline extended - Aug 15, 2005) ¶ 19:28
Tuesday, August 16, 2005; Posted: 12:36 a.m. EDT (04:36 GMT)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's National Assembly voted unanimously Monday to extend for a week the deadline for negotiators to agree on a draft of the country's new constitution.
The committee drafting the document asked for an extension after it failed to reach a compromise by Monday's deadline after months of talks. The new deadline is August 22.
Without the extension, the government would have dissolved, requiring new elections in December and starting the process again -- a prospect the United States has strongly opposed.
The assembly voted after more than five hours of delay and about a half-hour before the midnight deadline.
U.S. leaders were quick to praise the Iraqi efforts and express confidence in the outcome, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President Bush making similar comments.
"We are witnessing democracy at work in Iraq," Rice told reporters, saying the Iraqis had made "substantial progress" on difficult issues. Bush issued a statement applauding the "heroic efforts" of the Iraqis as "a tribute to democracy."
(More ... CNN.com - Iraq constitution deadline extended - Aug 15, 2005) ¶ 19:28
