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Monday, March 8, 2004

Before an audience of prominent Iraqi and American civilian and military officials, including the top administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, the 25 council members signed the document on an antique desk once owned by King Faisal I, Iraq's first monarch.

Council president Mohammed Bahr al-Ulloum called the signing a "historic moment, decisive in the history of Iraq."

"There is no doubt that this document will strengthen Iraqi unity in a way never seen before," said Massoud Barzani, a Kurdish leader on the council. "This is the first time that we Kurds feel that we are citizens of Iraq."

But there were signs that a dispute that delayed plans to sign the constitution on Friday might surface again. Council member Ibrahim al-Jaafari read a statement signed by 12 of the 13 Shiite council members that said they agreed to sign the interim constitution without demanding changes in order to safeguard national unity. Last week, bombers carried out deadly attacks on Shiite pilgrims in Baghdad and Karbala.

Several Shiite council members said a clause that was in dispute, which would give Kurds more power, would be subject to further negotiations. They said the clause might be amended in an addendum to the interim constitution that is expected to be issued next month to decide the shape and functions of an interim government that will take over from the U.S.-led coalition on June 30.

The signing came nine days after a deadline set in a U.S. timetable. The delay was caused by a mourning period after bomb attacks on Shiite shrines, as well as political wrangling on the U.S.-picked council. The impasse strained relations between Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish leaders and highlighted the power of Iraq's Shiite clergy.

The charter, which includes a 13-article bill of rights, enshrines Islam as one of the bases of law and outlines the shape of a parliament and presidency as well as a federal structure for the country. It will remain in effect until a permanent constitution is approved by a national referendum planned for late 2005.

About an hour before the signing ceremony began, guerrillas fired mortar shells at two police stations in central Baghdad, injuring four people, including one policeman, Iraqi officials said.

Iraqi and U.S. officials still must agree on a method to create the government that will take power on June 30 and serve until national elections due by Jan. 31, a task that will likely need help from the United Nations.

© 2004 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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