Iraq agrees committee to amend constitution

IRAQ: Iraq's parliament agreed to set up a body to draft constitutional changes, a key part of a breakthrough deal reached by the country's factions to end political paralysis and avoid civil war.

Iraq's new, U.S.-sponsored political system has been stalled by wrangling over amendments to the constitution and autonomy for the oil-rich Shi'ite heartland in the south, while the streets have grown ever more violent since December's election.

Breaking the deadlock at a time when U.S. commanders fear a surge in violence through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was a crucial test of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's efforts to sustain his four-month-old national unity government.

In the south of Iraq, British forces said they had killed Omar Faruq, described as a senior al Qaeda figure who escaped from a U.S. military prison in Afghanistan more than a year ago.

"I think the agreement is like a gift presented by parliament to the Iraqi people for Ramadan," parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a Sunni Arab, told the house.

"Any speech that might be considered offensive and open up any other topic will be banned today is like a wedding."

Under the deal reached on Sunday, majority Shi'ites and minority Sunnis agreed to create a constitutional committee and pass a law allowing autonomy for regions, while postponing the creation of any new autonomous region until at least 2008.

Members agreed on the committee in principle on Monday, and will name its 27 members on Tuesday. It will have 12 members from the ruling Shi'ite religious bloc, five ethnic Kurds, four from the main Sunni Arab bloc and smaller numbers of others.

Meanwhile Iraqi President Jalal Talabani warns that Iraq can "make trouble" for its neighbours if they do not stop interfering in his country's internal affairs.

In an interview to air on National Public Radio on Tuesday, Talabani said Syria, Iran and Turkey were interfering and warned that Iraq's patience was wearing thin.

"We are asking them to stop interfering in our internal affairs and respect the sovereignty and independence of Iraq otherwise we will be obliged to say something," Talabani said in excerpts of the interview released on Monday.

Baghdad, Tuesday, Reuters