Iraqi politicians ‘will meet deadline for agreement on constitution’

WITH the deadline for Iraq’s constitution rapidly approaching, the US ambassador to the country dismissed the suggestion yesterday that Iraqis may need a few more weeks to iron out differences.

"The Iraqis tell me that they can finish it and they will finish it (on Monday)," Zalmay Khalilzad said. "There are options, obviously, should they need it, but at this point, my information is and I've just come from a meeting with the Iraqi leaders that they intend to finish it (on Monday)."

Mr Khalilzad acknowledged the importance of getting Sunni Arabs to sign off on the document, particularly since the insurgency is dominated by Sunnis.