BAGHDAD, Aug. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Sunni Arab negotiators refused to sign Iraq's draft constitution on Sunday despite amendments made by the Shiite and Kurdish counterparts, a Sunni negotiator told Xinhua.

   "We didn't sign the draft as we reject it and we still holding discussions," Salih al-Mutlaq said.

   The Sunni constitution committee members convened in the Convention Center inside the fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, a source close to the Sunni members told Xinhua.

   "They (Sunni members) are going to issue a statement rejecting the draft," the sources said. "Despite the amendments, the draft did not meet the minimum of the Sunni demands which are aimed at preserving Iraq's unity."

   A final version of the draft constitution was signed by an overwhelming majority of the draft committee on Sunday.

   Sheikh Fahran Hawas al-Sedeid, a member of the Council of National Dialogue, said that Sunni Arabs wanted the main outstanding issues especially federalism to be postponed until after the election of a formal National Assembly which will be better represented.

   Sedeid threatened that if the Shiite and Kurdish coalition who dominated the transitional parliament forced through the the draft constitution despite the Sunni objections, the charter will be defeated in Oct. 15 referendum.

   Under Iraq's interim law, the draft constitution will fail if two-thirds of voters in any three of Iraq's 18 provinces reject it in the referendum.  Enditem