The signing of Iraq's interim constitution has been delayed after last-minute objections by some Shia governing council members.
The constitution, which had been due to be signed at 4 p.m. (1 p.m Irish time) today, is a key step in Washington's plans to hand sovereignty back to Iraqis by June 30th.
Hamid al-Bayati of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) said five Shia Governing Council members, including the SCIRI representative, had objected to aspects of the document.
Mr Bayati said Shias opposed a clause dealing with a planned referendum on a permanent constitution due in 2005 that says that if three provinces vote against it by a two-thirds majority, they could veto it even if a majority of Iraqis approved it.
Shia fear this could give minority Sunni Arabs and Kurds too much influence over the constitution.
The other objection was to the proposed structure of the presidential council, Mr Bayati said.
The Council had said on Monday that it had agreed on the interim constitution after days of heated talks. The last-minute delay was an embarrassment for the US-led administration, which had organised musicians and children dressed in various Iraqi national costumes for the signing ceremony.