Iraqi president urges leaders to resolve constitution dispute

IRAQ’S president urged a spirit of compromise as political leaders gathered yesterday to try to resolve differences over a new constitution that is supposed to be approved by parliament next Monday.

President Jalal Talabani, a Kurdish leader, made the appeal following a meeting with US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who has stepped up pressure on the Iraqis to meet the August 15 deadline key to Washington’s strategy of drawing down troop strength in Iraq next year.

Mr Talabani called for “consensus to solve all the problems related to drafting the new constitution and that this mission be done at its time”.