Iraqi constitution work to start soon

The chairman of the Iraqi governing council Ibrahim al-Jaafari yesterday expressed his conviction that the new Iraqi constitution will be born within 6 months, while the formation of the Iraqi government will be next week.

Al- Jaafari said in a press statement in Abu Dhabi that the "council has actually started receiving drafts for the constitution which will be put for public referendum." He added that appointing ministers will be made by the end of next week and it will take into account the ethnic and religious pluralism."

Al-Jaafari who arrived later in the day to Oman leading a delegation for the governing council in an Arab tour that includes Kuwait and Bahrain said that the "council makes a distinction between sectarianism and the need to recognize that Iraq includes various national groups."

The American administrator of Iraq Paul Bremer, said for his part, that the Iraqi transitional council will remain in power between 6 to 8 months after it formulates the new constitution, and this is to complete its mission before making general elections.