Iraq's US-appointed Governing Council has agreed on an interim constitution this morning in what is a key step in Washington's plan to hand sovereignty back to Iraqis by June 30th.
"Early this morning the Governing Council unanimously approved the Transitional Administrative Law after weeks of intensive discussions," the Council said in a statement. The document will be signed on Wednesday.
Agreement was finally reached at 1.20 a.m. (Irish time). The 25-member Council had previously missed a February 28th deadline to strike a deal due to divisions over the role of Islam, quotas for women in government and Kurdish demands for autonomy.
Officials said the law recognised Islam as Iraq's official religion and said it would be a source - but not the primary source - of legislation. Shi'ites in the Governing Council had wanted Islamic law to be given precedence in family affairs.
A senior coalition official said the compromise "strikes the right balance" between the Islamic identity of most Iraqis and the need to enshrine freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Such freedoms are covered by a bill of rights included in the transitional constitution.
The official said the constitution also approved a federal structure for Iraq - as demanded by Kurds who have ruled an autonomous area of northern Iraq since the 1991 Gulf War.