One of Iraq's biggest Arab Sunni parties said Monday that it might back the country's constitution, but it urged changes to a text agreed by the Shi'ite-dominated parliament.

US President George W. Bush hailed the draft as a breakthrough but predicted an October referendum on the document would spark "atrocities" after minority Sunnis rejected the text.

But the Iraqi Islamic Party, seen as moderate Islamist and opposed to violence, said Monday there was still room for negotiation on the constitution.

"We have not signed the constitution and we still have the time starting from now until the referendum comes," party spokesman Tareq al-Hashemi told a news conference. "We might say yes to the constitution if the disputed points are resolved."

President won't sign death sentence

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said on Sunday that he will not sign any death sentence, not even for his ousted predecessor Saddam Hussein.

Talabani, who opposes capital punishment, told the pan-Arab Al-Arabiya television: "I am a man of principles... If there is a clash between the post and the principles, I will give up the post and keep the principles."

Source: China Daily