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Drafters of Iraqi constitution to meet original deadline

Iraq`s parliament is expected to announce on Monday that the team drafting the constitution will meet an Aug. 15 deadline for submitting the document, a member of the constitution committee said. The drafting of the constitution is a major plank in the U.S. administration`s plans for democracy in Iraq and is seen as perhaps the best chance for a political end to the insurgency.

"It is expected that the National Assembly will announce that we are committed to the deadline. The draft will be submitted on Aug. 15. If all the points are not completed we will have two more weeks for discussions," Bahaa al-Araji told Reuters.

Many of the 71 members on the drafting committee said they need more time, while others said the priority is meeting the deadline. The debate has come to a head because any extension must be requested by Aug. 1.