Iraq rebels launch fresh attacks

BAGHDAD – Thirteen Iraqi workers were killed in a bus ambush yesterday as insurgent attacks showed no sign of a let-up while President Jalal Talabani signalled that a new constitution could be ready ahead of time.

A total of 15 people were killed in attacks by rebels, including the 13 slain when insurgents opened fire on a bus carrying workers to a US army base outside Baquba, a restive town north-east of Baghdad. Insurgents have stepped up their attacks in the last few weeks, with more than 140 killed and scores other wounded in a bombing frenzy in the last five days alone.Talabani, the first Kurdish head of state in an Arab country, said the drafting of the new constitution was almost finalised and the document could be ready by the end of July, ahead of the August 15 deadline.”The committees working on the constitution are about to finalise the constitution and it could be ready by end of the current month,” Talabani told reporters.He said certain objections were raised by the Sunni Arabs involved in the drafting of the document, which the committee was discussing with them.”There are some issues raised by our Sunni Arab brothers about the constitution and we are discussing them and if we reach an agreement, I think the constitution could be ready by end of the current month,” he added.The document must be finished by August 15 and put to a national referendum by October 15, according to the current interim law.The 71-member committee working on the constitution has incorporated 17 prominent Sunni Arabs from outside parliament to join in drafting, debating and approving the constitution.- Nampa-AFPInsurgents have stepped up their attacks in the last few weeks, with more than 140 killed and scores other wounded in a bombing frenzy in the last five days alone.Talabani, the first Kurdish head of state in an Arab country, said the drafting of the new constitution was almost finalised and the document could be ready by the end of July, ahead of the August 15 deadline.”The committees working on the constitution are about to finalise the constitution and it could be ready by end of the current month,” Talabani told reporters.He said certain objections were raised by the Sunni Arabs involved in the drafting of the document, which the committee was discussing with them.”There are some issues raised by our Sunni Arab brothers about the constitution and we are discussing them and if we reach an agreement, I think the constitution could be ready by end of the current month,” he added.The document must be finished by August 15 and put to a national referendum by October 15, according to the current interim law.The 71-member committee working on the constitution has incorporated 17 prominent Sunni Arabs from outside parliament to join in drafting, debating and approving the constitution.- Nampa-AFP