Mahmoud Othman Quotes

"The (committee) members will study and discuss the names, make their choices and then present them to the heads of the blocs either tonight or tomorrow."

"I am happy about this decision because I want this to be done democratically, even though we support the constitution."

"If concessions are made to the Sunnis to make additions to the constitution, then the other parties want a guarantee from the Sunnis that they will vote back the constitution at the referendum. But there are no guarantees."

"whether Islam will be the main source or a source of legislation in the constitution."

"The US officials are more interested in the Iraqi constitution than the Iraqis themselves, because they promised their people that it will be done August 15."

"Without any doubt, there is American pressure on everybody, ... The U.S. wants to reach a solution and finalize an agreement, and they say that the date of Aug. 15 is sacred."

"We call on you all to take part in the elections, ... We don't want federalism."

"There was not enough time to reach an agreement."

"Iraq is in a very delicate situation and has problems with foreign forces, so we need a government of national unity that should include the Shiite list, Kurdish coalition and the Sunnis. When everyone is together, the problems will be less."

"I can't predict a timetable for forming the government. All these important points need thorough study. If they can't reach an agreement, then there will be a problem."

"There is no progress. We are sticking to our stance and they explained their stance."

"Violence has its fingerprints on everything. It's affecting everything and every activity."

"[Sunni approval of the constitution would have] created a big movement against the terrorists, ... It is a good document. What worries us is our Sunni Arab friends."

"From the very beginning, we said that if the constitution committee wants to have a draft that all would agree on, it would be impossible by Aug. 15, ... The Sunnis haven't agreed on some points, and I don't think they will. The Kurds also haven't gotten their demands yet. ... There's a concern that the Sunnis and Kurds might boycott."

"How can we vote when we saw nothing of the last budget?"

"He wrote his opinions to try to find a compromise, so all sides are now studying it."

"We don't want to violate the constitution before our first meeting."

"It is not good to have a constitution that would limit the liberties of people, the human rights, the freedoms."

"Without any doubt, there is American pressure on everybody. The U.S. wants to reach a solution and finalize an agreement, and they say that the date of Aug. 15 is sacred."

"Everyone is trying to convince his own people and we haven't reached an agreement on federalism."