Effort to Amend Constitution Founders Again

Al-Hayat reports in Arabic that Iraqi parliamentarians proved unable to agree on key constitutional compromises. The sticking points included the establishment of further provincial confederacies, De-Baathification, the disposition of the oil city of Kirkuk, and the distribution of national wealth [this is where that would be done, not in the equally stalled petroleum legislation]. The parliamentary committee is asking for more time.

Al-Hayat discusses and then rejects the truth of rumors that Iyad Allawi is bieng groomed for a constitutional coup, in which he would put together the largest parliamentary block. This possibility is viewed as improbable by leading Iraqi politicians. The paper also reports the visit by anti-al-Qaeda Sunni tribal leaders from al-Anbar to see Sadrist leaders in New York

They also discuss the visit of the Sunni tribal leaders to the Sadrists in South

Reuters reports civil war violence in Iraq on Tuesday. Major incidents, not counting roadside bombs that killed or wounded Iraqi security forces and civilians, included:

' BAGHDAD - At least 25 people were killed and 60 wounded when a car bomb exploded near a popular market in Amil district in southwestern Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - At least four college students were killed and 25 wounded in a mortar attack at Ibn al-Haitham college in Adhamiya district in northern Baghdad, police said . . .

NEAR GARMA - U.S. forces killed nine insurgents in a ground and air attack and freed 12 hostages held near the town of Garma, about 50 km (35 miles) west of Baghdad, the U.S. military said. . . [What is that about?]

McClatchy adds that a whopping 33 bodies were discovered on the streets of Baghdad on Tuesday. It adds:

' 9 students were killed including 2 female students and 2 injured (students in the Islamic education college) when gunmen attacked their mini bus in Tounis neighborhood east Baghdad around 2,30. '

The USG Open Source Center paraphrases Iraq newspaper articles for May 22.

' Dar al-Salam runs on the front page a 500-word report on the statement issued by the Iraqi Al-Tawafuq Front demanding the cancellation of the Interior Ministry's recent decision to reinstate former security officers. . .

Dar al-Salam publishes on page 2 a 400-word report citing Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi confirming that the Iraqi Al-Tawafuq Front has not cancelled its plans to withdraw from the government. Al-Hashimi explained that the withdrawal plans have been suspended and that the final decision will depend on the results of the current talks with the government regarding the previous agreements between political blocs. . .

Al-Sabah al-Jadid carries on page 5 a 300-word report entitled "Al-Bayyati: Constitutional Amendment Committee Refers Issues of Wealth Distribution, Federal Blocs' Authority, Article 140 to Bloc Leaders. . .

Al-Bayan carries on page 2 a 400-word report on the statement issued by 36 tribal chiefs from Karbala offering to defend the governorate. . .

Al-Mashriq carries on page 2 a 1,000-word interview with Salih al-Mutlaq, who says that Al-Maliki's government is legal, and that the Iraqi Islamic Party is responsible for amending the Constitution, because it urged Sunnis to vote in the general elections. . .

Al-Mada carries on page 3 a 150-word report citing [Sunni Arab] Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi announcing that a US-Iran dialogue harms Iraqi sovereignty. . .

Al-Mada carries on page 2 a 250-word report stating that the De-B'athification Committee considers the Interior Ministry's call for dissolved security services to return to work as a violation of the Constitution. . . .

Al-Bayyinah al-Jadidah carries on the front page a 270-word report citing a well-informed political source saying that Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim has managed to "put out Iraq's fire" by calming the situation between the United States and Iran. . .

Al-Muwatin carries on the front page a 650-word report citing senior sources saying that the upcoming US-Iranian talks will achieve fruitful results to end violence in Iraq. The report adds that Al-Anbar's tribes are planning to form political coalitions as an alternative for the Iraqi Al-Tawafuq Front if it withdraws from the government. . .

Al-Muwatin carries on page 3 a 180-word report cites Aqil al-Fariji, member of the Basra Governorate Council, denying that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has issued a decision to dismiss Basra Governor Muhammad Musbih al-Wa'ili. . .

Al-Bayyinah carries on page 4 a 750-word report on the Islamic Conference for Iraqi Tribes that was held in Al-Najaf on 20 May. . .

Al-Sabah carries on page 8 a 130-word report confirming plans to recruit 150 women police officers in Karbala Governorate.

Al-Mashriq carries on the front page a 400-word report on fierce clashes between Al-Mahdi Army and British forces near the governorate office in Basra . . .

Al-Mashriq carries on the front page a 350-word report citing the Ministry of Defense announcing that Baghdad plans to buy new weapons worth $5.1 billion. . .

Al-Mada runs on page 3 a 150-word report stating that tribes of Al-Obeydat and Al-Masu'd have driven out Al-Qa'ida terrorists after clashing and chasing them in the Mowaylha area in northern Babil Province. . .

Al-Mada carries on page 2 a 1,500-word report stating that 4,000 US Marines carried out a huge military operation in Al-Anbar Province. . .

Al-Muwatin carries on page 2 a 240-word report cites the Baghdad Governorate Council Chairman Mu'in al-Kazimi saying that 5,000 land tracts will be distributed to the former regime's victims. . .

Al-Muwatin carries on page 3 a 90-word report citing an Al-Muwatin's correspondent in Abu Ghurayb saying that clashes have erupted between Harith al-Dari's terrorists on the one hand and Al-Muthanna Brigade and citizens on the other. . .

Al-Muwatin carries on page 3 a 300-word report citing Basra citizens expressing satisfaction about the British decision not to send Prince Harry to serve in the governorate. . .

Al-Zaman publishes on page 5 a 320-word report entitled "Press Freedom Watch Denounces US Army for Breaking into Al-Da'wah Newspaper Headquarters." . .

Al-Mashriq carries on page 5 a 20-word report cited the governor of the Central Bank saying that hard currency reserves reached $21 billion. . .

Al-Mashriq carries on page 5 a 120-word report on the development of three oil fields in Maysan. . .