Sunnis Reach Accord With Shiites on Makeup of Charter Panel

BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 16 - Sunni Arabs reached agreement today with the major Shiite alliance over increased Sunni representation on the committee that will draft the Iraqi constitution.

The agreement represented a significant development in the weeks-long political deadlock between the Sunnis and the 55-member committee, and it came after considerable pressure from the United States and the European Union for Iraqis to reach a solution.

It also signaled a willingness by the Sunnis, most of whom who refused to take part in the Iraqi elections on Jan. 31, to become more involved in the political process."