30 killed as Iraqis clinch Charter deal
Foreign Desk Report

BAGHDAD—A suicide bomber blew himself up at an Iraqi army recruitment centre, killing 30 people in the latest insurgent strike aimed at derailing a weekend vote on the country’s new constitution.
The attack came just as political leaders announced concessions over the constitution in a bid to win over the ousted Sunni elite, which had threatened to reject the charter or even boycott Saturday’s vote altogether.
The bomber set off his explosives belt in a crowd of people waiting outside the centre in the northwestern Iraqi town of Tal Afar, just a day after another attack there killed 30 people in a crowded market. Sunni-backed insurgents have already vowed to disrupt the vote on the constitution, a milestone in the war-ravaged political transition following Saddam Hussein’s ouster that has deeply divided the country on sectarian lines.
Attacks have continued despite security being strengthened nationwide for the vote, with the partial closure of some international borders, air and sea ports, traffic restrictions and a weapons ban. Parliament is due later to endorse a number of amendments to the charter which the now-dominant Shiites and Kurds hope will be enough to secure its adoption on Saturday despite lingering Sunni Arab concerns. Under a deal hammered out late Tuesday after weeks of intensive negotiations, Iraqi leaders have also agreed a mechanism to consider further revisions to the constitution after new elections to be held in December, whatever the result of the referendum. “I am confident that there will be a consensus on the constitution on the day of the vote,” Kurdish President Jalal Talabani said. “The charter... will strengthen the unity of the Iraqi people.” Iraq’s Sunni Vice President Ghazi al-Yawar added: “It was done in haste... but it is the best we can do”. But several Sunni parties said they were still hostile to the agreement. The community, which largely boycotted January’s elections and are now on the political sidelines, have have voiced strong opposition to the federal provisions of the draft, fearing it could lead to the break-up of the country and leave control of the vast oil wealth in the hands of Shiites and Kurds.