Iraqi lawmakers have voted to extend their effort by seven days to write the country's draft constitution after missing a midnight deadline to finish the document. A series of last minute meetings on Monday among Iraqi leaders could not break a deadlock on two crucial issues.
After twice postponing the time for delivering a draft constitution earlier Monday, Iraqi leaders and the 71-member constitution-writing committee remained behind closed doors, deliberating two contentious issues remaining in the way of a draft constitution.
The two issues still being debated are the right of the Kurdish north for self-determination and what role Islam would play in Iraqi law.
According to American sources here the dispute centered on Shi'ite demands for Islam to be included in the constitution as the major source of legislation and Kurdish demands to enshrine their right to self-determination.
Each group has reportedly rejected the other group's demand.
