Iraqi Groups Agree on Federalism Debate
Iraq's feuding ethnic and sectarian groups agreed on Sunday, September 24, 2006, to consider amending the constitution and begin debating legislation to create a federated nation. Sunni Arabs have fought a federalism bill, Shiite-proposed draft legislation to permit creation of partly self-ruling regions. fearing it will splinter the country and deny them a share of Iraq's oil. But they agreed to a legislative debate after all parties accepted a Sunni demand that a parliamentary committee be set up to study amending the constitution.