Insurgents kill GI, 27 Iraqis

An intense sandstorm that brought Baghdad to a standstill Monday had delayed the meeting for more than 24 hours as many leaders were unable to reach the Iraqi capital.

The meeting started late in the afternoon, an official statement said.

It was due to involve "five to seven" top leaders, including Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari, his spokesman Leith Kubba had earlier told reporters.

"There will then be a larger meeting of some 30 to 35 leaders" to consider details of the proposals, Kubba added.

However it was unknown if Massoud Barzani, the Kurdish leader, had reached Baghdad in time to attend the meeting.

"We are waiting for Mr. Barzani to come," US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told AFP early Tuesday afternoon. "The weather has been the factor impeding his arrival," he added.

A severe sandstorm, which reduced visibility to less than 100 yards (meters), forced meetings to be cancelled Monday and delayed them further Tuesday morning.

Kubba provided no details on the talks, but said the question of the rights of women "much debated by the western press" was "not a great problem".

Even as he Kubba spoke, a small group of ultra-conservative Iraqi women mounted a counter demonstration to one organized by some 50 of their liberal opponents in central Baghdad on Tuesday over the issue of women's rights.

"We want the constitutional drafting committee to hear our voices," said Environment Minister Narmine Othman, associated with the liberal group. "We fear that some articles (in the constitution) will be unjust for women."

Counter-demonstrator Fadia Al-Aaraji carried a banner stating the rights of Iraqi women were guaranteed by Islam.

"We are demanding that the Iraqi people's Islamic identity be respected and included in the constitution," she said.

Other key issues involve the role of Islam and scope of federalism, with Kurds insisting on maximum autonomy for their northern region, while Shias and Sunni Arabs are divided over whether other provinces should also get autonomy.

Khalilzad assured reporters that while the Kurds wanted autonomy, they would not be pushing for independence.

"Barzani himself has said that while the Kurds have the right to self-determination they have decided not to exercise that ... the issue is not on their agenda," the ambassador said.

"There are some issues over the role of Islam and whether it should be 'a main source' or 'the main source' of legislation," he also said.