Bush urges Shi’ites not to alienate Sunnis

Thousands of supporters of former dictator Saddam Hussein and followers of maverick Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets in separate demonstrations on Friday to protest against provisions in the draft constitution aimed at creating a federal Iraq—a step many fear could lead to the country being divided. The draft was still being discussed with disgruntled Sunnis on Friday, extending talks originally meant to last three days.

Sources close to the ruling coalition said Bush urged Hakim to seek an accord with the Sunnis. ‘‘Bush asked him to be more flexible with regard to Sunni demands,’’ they said.

White House spokesman Trent Duffy said, ‘‘This is an Iraqi process, but the United States is doing everything it can to assist them in meeting their own obligations and deadlines under the Transitional Administrative Law.’’

Bush made the ‘‘brief’’ call from Idaho where he made a speech aimed at quelling disquiet over the occupation of Iraq, where dozens of Americans die each month.

Bush has been insistent that Iraqis stick to a US-made timetable as a means of quelling Sunni insurgency, as part of a plan to reduce US troop numbers in Iraq.

Parliament Speaker Hajim al-Hassani held out hope of a final agreement in talks on Friday, but it made clear that without a deal that the present draft would simply be presented to a vote.

Although the talking continues, Sunni leaders have already began mobilising their community in central and western Iraq to vote against the charter. On Friday, thousands of protesters in Baquba, north of Baghdad, took to the streets in support of Saddam, who now awaits trial in jail.

In a familiar scene now in a country with the world’s third largest oil reserves, insurgents sabotaged an exporting oil well on Friday, stepping up pressure on the US-backed government to provide security. —Reuters