Home>News Center>World
         
 

Saddam to go on trial Oct. 19, faces hanging
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-09-05 06:56

Some Sunnis fear the charter will decentralize government in Iraq, giving greater autonomy to the southern Shi'ites, in line with the broad autonomy already enjoyed by the Kurds.

In particular, they fear losing out on Iraq's potentially vast oil wealth, with the main fields located in Kurdish and Shi'ite areas. Iraq has the world's third largest oil reserves.

The constitution has strained already tense relations between the three communities. The U.S.-backed government is facing an insurgency by Sunnis, with deadly attacks on Iraqi police and soldiers carried out on a daily basis.

CONSTITUTIONAL NEGOTIATIONS

Senior Sunni and Shi'ite figures are holding informal talks in Baghdad to amend some of the more contentious articles in the constitution and seek agreement on a text, Saleh Mutlak, a Sunni from the National Dialogue Council told Reuters on Sunday.

"There are some unofficial talks between friends from both sides, because if the constitution is presented in its present form without the approval of those who opposed it there will be a problem," he said, adding that talks started five days ago.

The talks have held up the printing of millions of copies of the constitution.

"Printing the five million copies has been a little delayed until we see what we can do in the talks on the changes," said Bahaa al Araji, a senior member of the National Assembly's constitution drafting committee.

A stampede on a bridge over the river Tigris in Baghdad last week, in which 1,005 Shi'ite pilgrims suffocated, drowned or were trampled to death, has exacerbated tensions even further.

Shi'ites blame Sunni radicals for firing mortar bombs and rockets into the huge crowd first, killing seven. Some officials accused militants of spreading rumors that there was a suicide bomber in the crowd. Others put the disaster down to accident.
Page: 123



Bush orders more troops to secure New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina batters US
Pakistani, Indian officials meet for peace
 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

China, EU striving for agreement on textiles

 

   
 

New Orleans begins counting its dead

 

   
 

Typhoon Talim inflicts deadly damage

 

   
 

China to sign Airbus deal during Blair visit

 

   
 

President Hu's visit to the US postponed

 

   
 

Opinion: US should weigh China ties

 

   
  Saddam's defense team balks at Oct trial
   
  Katrina aid pours in from around the world
   
  New Orleans begins counting its dead
   
  Saddam to go on trial Oct. 19, faces hanging
   
  China to sign Airbus deal during Blair visit
   
  New Orleans left to the dead and dying
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Saddam Hussein trial to begin next month
   
Official: Saddam's trial to begin in October
   
Talabani won't sign Saddam death sentence
   
Saddam in court, confirms legal team sacked
   
Saddam says to sacrifice life for Arab cause
   
Saddam could be executed after first trial
   
Iraq gets ready for Saddam trial
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Advertisement