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In New Iraq: Kurds Must Learn Arabic, Abide by an Arab Religion, and Lose Oil to Arabs

Excerpts from draft Iraqi constitution

BAGHDAD, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The following are excerpts from the draft Iraqi constitution presented to parliament late on Monday.

"The republic of Iraq is an independent sovereign state with a system of government that is republican, parliamentary, democratic and federal."

"Islam is the official religion of the state, and it is a main source for legislation. No law can be passed that contradicts the fixed principles of Islam's rulings. No law can be passed that contradicts the principles of democracy. No law can be passed that contradicts basic rights and freedoms mentioned in this constitution."

"This constitution guarantees the Islamic identity of the majority of the Iraqi people, as well as complete religious rights for all individuals to freedom of beliefs and religious practice."

"Iraq is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country and it is part of the Islamic world, and the Arab people in it are part of the Arab nation."

"The Arabic language and Kurdish language are the two official languages of Iraq, and the right of Iraqis to educate their children in mother tongues such as Turkmen and Syriac in government teaching establishments ... or any other language in private institutions is guaranteed."

"Speech and expression in official forums such as parliament, government, courts and conferences can be in either of the two languages."

"Federal institutions and bodies in the Kurdistan region will use the two languages."

"The law has sovereignty, the people are the source of authorities and their legitimacy, and they practise this via direct secret ballot and their constitutional institutions."

"Rotation of power is practiced peacefully via the democratic institutions outlined in this constitution."

"All bodies or practices are forbidden which use racism, terrorism, denouncing people as non-Muslim, sectarian cleansing or which incite, prepare, praise, promote or justify them, in particular the Saddamist Baath party in Iraq under any name, which cannot be part of political pluralism in Iraq, and this will be organised by law."

"The state will combat terrorism in all its forms and act to protect its borders from being used for terrorist activity."

"Iraqi armed forces and security forces will be made up of all components of the Iraqi people without discrimation or marginalisation..."

"Military militias cannot be formed outside the framework of the armed forces."

"The Iraqi government respects and implements Iraq's international commitments preventing the spread, development, production and use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons..."

"An Iraqi is anyone born to an Iraqi father or mother. Iraqi nationality is the right of every Iraqi and basis of citizenship ... Iraqis can have numerous nationalities, and anyone who occupies a sovereign or high security post must relinquish any other nationality, and this will be organised by law."

"It is not allowed to detain or hold someone for questioning without a court order. All forms of physical or bodily torture or inhuman treatment are banned..."

"Parliament will sit for four years ... elections for a new parliament will be held 45 days before the end of the current session."

"The president of the republic can be called to parliament for questioning if an absolute majority of members demand it ... An absolute majority of parliamentary members can withdraw confidence in any minister, after which the minister will be relieved (of his post) ... The president of the republic can ask parliament to withdraw confidence in the prime minister... Parliament can withdraw confidence in the prime minister through an absolute majority; cabinet is dissolved if confidence is withdrawn in the prime minister."

"The president of the republic is elected for four years. The cabinet elects a new president of the republic three months before the end of the incumbent president's period of office."

"Oil and gas are the property of all the Iraqi people in all regions and provinces."

"The federal government manages oil and gas from current fields with the governments of the producing regions and provinces, and the resources should be distributed in a fair manner appropriate to the population balance around the entire country, with specific temporary allocations for regions damaged and unfairly neglected under the previous regime..."

"Federal government and governments of producing regions and provinces will together draw the necessary strategic policies to develop oil and gas wealth for the good of the Iraqi people..."

"A legislative Federal Assembly comprising representatives of regions and provinces for viewing draft laws concerned with regions and provinces. Law will organise its formation."

"Regions are formed of one province or more, and two provinces or more have the right to organise themselves into a region. One province or more can form a region through a request for a referendum, presented by either a third of the assemblies of the provinces involved, or a tenth of voters in the provinces involved.

"Executive authority in a region lies in the president of the region and its cabinet ... The president of a region will be elected according to the region's constitution."