Terrorized Sunnis halt work on constitution panel

BAGHDAD — Sunni Muslim members on a committee drafting Iraq’s new constitution suspended their participation yesterday in the wake of a colleague’s assassination, saying they need more security. A suicide bomber killed at least 10 persons outside an army recruiting center in central Baghdad that has been attacked about a half-dozen times in recent months.

The bomber detonated explosives strapped to his belt at the entrance to the recruiting center at Baghdad’s defunct Muthanna airport, said police and medical officials.

At least 21 persons were wounded, said Dr. Muhannad Jawad of Yarmouk Hospital. The recruiting center has been targeted multiple times, with a July 10 attack killing 25 and wounding 47.

The violence occurred a day after two Sunni Arabs helping draft the constitution — committee member Mijbil Issa and committee adviser Dhamin Hussein al-Obeidi — were fatally shot as they left a restaurant in Baghdad’s Karradah district. A bodyguard also was killed.

Mr. Issa was among 15 Sunni Arabs appointed to the committee last month to give that community a greater voice in preparing the constitution, which must be approved by parliament by Aug. 15.

Two Sunnis already had quit because of insurgent threats, and the death of Mr. Issa led the others to consider withdrawing from the committee. Kamal Hamdoun, a Sunni member, said the 12 remaining members would meet today with Sunni leaders to decide what to do.

“Our membership has been suspended temporarily until tomorrow, when we meet the committee that chose us,” Mr. Hamdoun said. “We don’t have security.”

However, Humam Hammoudi, chairman of the constitutional drafting commission, said yesterday that he remains confident the constitution will be finished on time.

Mr. Hammoudi told reporters that the six subcommittees dealing with specific issues will submit their recommendations to the full committee in the next two days in hopes of presenting the document to parliament around Aug. 1.

Meanwhile, members of the committee say Shi’ite Muslims are pushing for a greater role for Islam in civil law — a proposal that could erode women’s rights in matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance.

Mariam al-Rayyes, a female Shi’ite member of the committee, said Islam will be a “main source” for legislation in the constitution and will be the state religion.

“It gives women all rights and freedoms as long as they don’t contradict with our values,” Miss al-Rayyes said. “Concerning marriage, inheritance and divorce, this is civil-status laws. That should not contradict with religious values.”

Also yesterday, the government observed three minutes of silence for nearly 100 victims of a suicide bombing in Musayyib during the weekend, and nearly 30, including 18 children and teens, killed July 13 in a suicide attack in Baghdad.

“Let the entire world see and hear who is standing behind these acts, who wants to kill childhood, to kill innocents and worshippers,” said Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.