[JURIST] US ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad [official profile] said Tuesday in Baghdad that protecting women's rights was "a fundamental requirement for Iraq's progress". Leaked drafts of the Iraqi constitution have reportedly contained provisions [JURIST report] that would apply strict Islamic law to such personal matters as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, significantly limiting women's rights. US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said late last month that adopting such provisions would be a "terrible mistake" [JURIST report]. AP has more.