BAGHDAD, July 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraq's parliamentary committee charged with drafting a permanent constitution could finish its jobby the end of this month if they are able to overcome the disagreement over outstanding issues, President Jalal Talabani saidon Tuesday.

    "The committee is working on the constitution and about to complete the constitution which could be ready by end of the current month," Talabani told reporters after a meeting with former prime minister Iyad Allawi.

    He said the committee has made a good progress "but there are some Arab brothers who have some reservations that are under discussion," Talabani said, referring to the Sunni Arabs who were at odds with fellow Kurds and Shiites over the definition of federalism.

    Some Sunni Arab members in the constitutional committee rejected autonomy guarantees given to the Kurds as a threat to national unity.

    The draft is due to be finalized by August 15 and put to a national referendum by October 15, according to the Transitional Administrative Law, which stands as an interim constitution for the country.

    Allawi, a secular Shiite, called for the interim constitution, which was approved before Iraq regained the power from the US occupation authorities on June 28, 2004,to be the basis for the permanent constitution.

    However, some Shiite Islamic parties are opposed to limiting the role of Islamic law as stipulated in the interim constitution. Enditem