Deadlock remains over Iraqi constitution

TALKS on the Iraqi constitution remained deadlocked last night over a proposal to ban members of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath Party from public life.

However, a Shi’ite negotiator reported progress in constitutional talks with the Sunni Arabs and Kurds on federalism.

Negotiator Jawad al-Maliki said the issue, known as “de-Ba’athification,” was especially difficult because it was something “we cannot drop”.