Iraqi parties agree to debate federalism bill

Click on map for larger version.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's fractious ethnic and religious parliamentary groups agreed Sunday to open debate on a contentious Shiite-proposed draft legislation that will allow the creation of federal regions in Iraq, politicians said.

The agreement came after a compromise was reached with Sunni Arabs on setting up a parliamentary committee to amend Iraq's constitution, a key demand by the minority.

The committee will be set up Monday and the federalism bill will be read to the body a day later, Sunni and Shiite politicians said.

The deal opens the way for Iraq's Shiites, Sunni Arabs and Kurds to move ahead politically and break a two-week political deadlock that threatened to further sour relations between the communities. If left unresolved, the deadlock could have further shaken Iraq's fragile democracy and led to more sectarian violence.

The federalism bill calls for setting up a system to allow the creation of autonomous regions in the predominantly Shiite south, much like the self-ruling Kurdish region in northern Iraq. Sunni Arabs have said they fear the legislation will split Iraq apart and fuel sectarian bloodshed.

Read the rest at the LA Times

Related Link:
Analysis: Iraq partition fight shows steep learning curve for legislators

Related Link:
Bush says dividing Iraq into separate regions would be a mistake

Related Link:
Battle lines drawn in Iraq federal row

Related Link:
Shiites submit draft law to divide Iraq

Related Link:
U.S. rebukes Iraq's Kurds over flag row