Secretary-General welcomes return of Iraq's Sunnis to committee drafting new constitution

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed the prospective return of Iraq's Sunni Arab representatives to the committee drafting the strife-torn country's new constitution following their withdrawal last week after two of their members were assassinated, and pledged continued United Nations support for the political transition.

Saying he was "encouraged" by the agreement between the Government and the Sunni Conference enabling the return, he also commended the Transitional Government's decision to conduct an independent criminal investigation into the assassinations. "Those responsible should be apprehended and prosecuted," he added in a statement issued by his spokesman.

"The Secretary-General urges all Iraqi parties to continue working together to achieve consensus around a new permanent constitution within the established timeframe," the statement said. "He assures them that his Special Representative in Iraq and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) will continue, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1546, to assist the Transitional Government, the Transitional National Assembly, and the Iraqi people in this important stage of the country's political transition."

The UN has been seeking full inclusiveness of all sectors in the constitution drafting process ever since Sunni Arabs largely stayed away from the 30 January elections for the Transitional National Assembly, which appoints the committee, and were thus unrepresented.

Just a month ago month ago, Mr. Annan welcomed the agreement to expand the committee by adding Sunni Arabs, the dominant political force in Saddam Hussein's ousted regime, who represent about 20 per cent of the population. Shiite Arabs, about 60 per cent of the electorate, voted enthusiastically and dominate the assembly together with the mainly Sunni Kurds, who also turned out en masse and represent about 20 per cent.