Iraq constitution debate deferred

More than 150 of the 275 members attended the first full session

Iraq's parliament has met for its first full legislative session since it was elected in December.

But the speaker deferred one of the most pressing issues - the formation of a committee to review the constitution - until the new cabinet is appointed.

Sunni deputies are driving efforts to amend the constitution, which they say paves the way for the break-up of Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Nouri Maliki, a Shia, is in the process of selecting a new cabinet.

But Shia officials say Sunni lawmakers are insisting on key posts, creating possible new stumbling blocks.

Those posts include deputy prime minister and a major ministry, such as finance or education, reports the Associated Press news agency.

Shia politician Bassem Sharif told AP that the Sunnis had refused a lesser ministry. He said talks would continue.

According to the constitution, the prime minister has 30 days from the date of his appointment - in Mr Maliki's case, 22 April - to form the new cabinet. Should he fail, the constitution dictates that another prime minister be selected.

Constitution concern

Parliamentary speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani opened Wednesday's first full legislative session, announcing that 154 of the 275 members were present.

He told lawmakers the creation of a committee to review the constitution was an important issue and should wait until the cabinet was formed "and the situation stabilises".

The initiative was spearheaded by Sunni lawmakers.

Nouri Maliki is in the process of selecting a cabinet of unity

"We are trying to change articles of the constitution which we describe as badly formed and written," Dr Ala Makki, a Sunni member of parliament for the Iraqi Islamic Party, told the BBC News website.

Contentious issues include federalism and the authority of the central government, the formation of the security services, and the distribution of the country's oil wealth - which is concentrated in the Kurdish north and Shia-dominated south.

"We are not objecting to federalism," said Dr Makki, "but we want a clear understanding of federalism to mean a really positive thing that will make Iraqi governorates and regions live together, and regulate relations between them, rather than making them prepared for division in the future."

He said certain constitutional articles gave local governments powers to supersede the authority of central government, which might lead to the nation's division.

The constitution allows us to form a committee which might revise [all] the constitutional articles, from A to Z Dr Ala Makki Iraqi Islamic Party

The draft of Iraq's constitution took painstaking weeks to hammer out before it was approved by Iraqi voters in a referendum in October 2005.

Asked whether it was worth reopening the debate over the constitution, Dr Makki pointed out a special provision had been made allowing for the reconsideration of the constitution, "which allows us to form a committee which might revise [all] the constitutional articles, from A to Z".

He conceded it was "mostly Sunni people pushing the issue", but said Shia and Kurdish groups also wanted to review certain articles.

"We think there will be a discussion including all the Iraqi people. And we might end up with reconciliation," he said.

Iraq's parliament is due to convene again next Wednesday.