Iraq's draft constitution is the most progressive document in the Muslim world, US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Sunday, after the charter was presented to parliament following weeks of tortuous debate. "The draft constitution of Iraq is the most progressive document of the Muslim world," Khalilzad told reporters.
He said the new charter protects the unity of the war-torn nation and also advocates women's rights.
"The draft constitution protects the unity of Iraq," said Khalizad, who was closely involved in the crafting of the charter.
Commenting on Kurdish autonomy, Khalilzad said the charter actually reunites northern Iraq with the rest of the country.
"The Kurdish leaders are bringing their region back into Iraq," he said, noting Iraqi Kurdistan had been running its own affairs since the country's defeat in the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait.
Khalilzad also said the new charter ensured women's rights. "Women have the right to participate fully in public activities," he added, pointing out that 25 percent of parliament seats were reserved for women.
Speaking earlier to the US television network NBC, Khalilzad said that if Iraq's Sunni Muslims failed to approve the constitution it would be a problem.
"If the Sunnis do vote for it and approve the constitution ... then it will be a national contract," the ambassador said. "If they don't, then it will be a problem," he added.
Khalilzad also said Iraqi rebels will continue their campaign of violence despite any political progress. "The insurgents have declared war on the constitution, they have declared war on the election," he told NBC.
He rejected charges that religious statements in the new charter would lead Iraq to become an Islamic state based on shariah law. "The words ... are the same as in the constitution of Afghanistan," he said.
The Islamic roots of law in the Iraqi constitution are balanced by declarations for principles of democracy and human rights, Khalilzad said, making it a pathbreaking "new synthesis" for the Middle East.
He said that, under the charter, Iraqis will be able to choose between civil law and shariah law for their own personal legal needs. In this way, it is "no different than is what is the case in Israel", Khalilzad said.