Senior constitution writer surprised at initial document

The Sunni Arab deputy head of Iraq's constitutional committee expressed his astonishment over a draft constitution text on Sunday.

"I have received yesterday an initial document of a draft constitution. I am astonished. I don't know who wrote it," Adnan al-Janabi said in a statement.

Janabi said he had sent a letter to Humam Hamodi, the Shiite head of the committee, asking for clarification.

He accused the committee leadership of violating the principle of reaching agreement by consensus.

Sunni Arab members of the constitutional committee suspended their membership in protest at the murder of three Sunni colleagues on Tuesday.

The three were among the 17 Sunni Arab members in the 71-member committee tasked with drafting a permanent constitution by Aug. 15.

Source: Xinhua