The Shi'ite majority in Iraq has said it has made its final proposals on the text of a draft constitution for the country.
So far the document has not won the support of Sunni Arabs, who are concerned at its provisions for a federal system of government.
Three deadlines have already been missed and if agreement is not reached today, it is likely the constitution will bypass the parliament and will be decided by the people in a referendum on 15 October.
Meanwhile, thousands of Iraqis across the country took part in marches in praise of Iraq's deposed leader Saddam Hussein and in support of the Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who is opposed to the draft constitution.
The marches could strengthen the opposition of Sunnis Arabs.
Marchers in the town of Baquba, 65km northeast of Baghdad, danced and chanted Saddam Hussein's name and condemned plans by the Shi'ite and Kurdish-led government to push through the draft constitution.
