BAGHDAD, March 8 (UPI) -- After repeated failures and missed deadlines last week, the Iraqi Governing Council Monday signed an interim constitution.
The constitution was endorsed unanimously following strenuous efforts by U.S. administrator Paul Bremer to iron out differences and last minute hitches over controversial points.
Sources told UPI: "Bremer exerted pressure on all council members to agree on the interim constitution and avoid delaying the transfer of powers by the end of June."
The constitution will be in force as of July 1 when Iraqis take over powers from the coalition authority until general elections are held for a legislative council by the end of this year or early 2005.
The elected legislative council will then draft Iraq's permanent constitution.
The interim constitution stipulates Islam is Iraq's official religion and a source of future legislation.
It guarantees equal rights for all Iraqis regardless of their religion, beliefs and ethnic affiliations, and upholds public freedoms including expression, gathering, worship and political activity.
The document was approved last Monday, but the signing was delayed until Friday out of respect for the victims of last week's bombings in Karbala and Baghdad.
