Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's fractious parliament on Sunday broke a three-week deadlock by agreeing to discuss federalism proposed by the Shiites.

    The compromise was reached after ethnic and religious groups in the parliament agreed to set up a committee on Monday to review possible amendments to the constitution over the coming year, a key demand of the Sunni minority.

    "The first reading of the draft law for the formation of regions will be on Tuesday," said Khaled Attiya, deputy speaker of the parliament.

    The federalism bill will first be read to the legislature and then debated for two days before parliament breaks Friday and Saturday. It will be read again with changes on Oct. 1.

    Then it will be put to a vote four days after the second reading and must be approved by a simple majority. If passed, it will be implemented 18 months later, according to the deal made by the parties.

    The Shiite majority want to set up a big autonomous federal region in the oil-rich Shiite south, and the Kurds seek a similar region in northern Iraq, but the Sunni Arabs had hitherto opposed the notion, saying it may divide the country and fuel sectarian bloodshed.

    Sunni Arabs say that before the federalism bill can be passed, parliament must amend the constitution. One of the amendments they seek would weaken the ability to set up self-ruling cantons.

    Under the constitution passed a year ago, the parliament had until Oct. 22 to pass a law setting down the mechanism of forming a federal region. The parliament was also under a deadline to review the constitution. Enditem