BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi's top political leaders huddled behind closed doors yesterday to start a series of meetings aimed at settling remaining details of the country's new constitution.

Held amid tight security at the central Baghdad home of President Jalal Talabani, the meeting brought together top Kurdish, Sunni Arab and Shiite officials to take on topics including the role of Islamic law and the relationship between central authorities and Iraq's regions.

In the tense backdrop for the constitutional haggling, insurgent attacks killed at least 10 people. A violent protest against a lack of clean water and electricity in the southern city of Samawah left one person dead and 60 others wounded. The protest was organized by radical Shiite clerics demanding that all foreign troops leave the country.

Talabani professed optimism that the rival leaders would be able to put aside differences that have stalled the parliamentary committee drafting the constitution. The final document must be submitted to the National Assembly for approval by Aug. 15, and if approved, will be put to a national referendum.

"Eight days are not a little," Talabani said before the meeting. "There's enough time."

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilizad said the meetings provided "the opportunity to lay the foundation for a new Iraq, one that will serve as a democratic model for the region and help Iraq take its proper place in the international community."

"All sides will need to make compromises but should feel that their essential needs are met," Khalilizad said. "The hopes of the Iraqi people and the eyes of the world will be focused on them."

U.S. officials have pushed hard to keep the process on schedule. But Talabani denied that the United States was pressuring political leaders to make specific concessions or delay controversial issues.

Among those who attended were Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and Abdel Aziz Hakim, rival leaders of the conservative Shiite ticket that captured a majority in January's parliamentary elections. Former Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shiite, and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zubari, a Kurd, also attended.

Shiite legislators have pushed for a constitution that cites Islamic sharia law as the primary source of Iraq's legal code. Kurds are seeking wording that guarantees the sweeping autonomy they have enjoyed in the north since the end of the first Gulf War in 1991 as well as control of the disputed oil-rich Kirkuk region.

Talabani promised a spirit of compromise on all sides, but there were also signs that Kurdish representatives were digging in to seek the best deal possible now. A presidential spokesman sought to dispel rumors that the Kurds had agreed to postpone the question of control over Kirkuk until after the constitution.

Representatives of Sunni Arab political groups that did not take part in January's legislative elections were not invited. Talabani said yesterday's meeting were for those who are in the government, and that meetings today would bring in Sunnis, the former ruling minority whose dissatisfaction is fueling the country's insurgency.

Other developments

• Ten people were killed in violence in Baghdad and Tikrit, the hometown of former President Saddam Hussein. A suicide bomber detonated his vehicle near a police recruiting station in Tikrit. Police sources said seven people were killed and 17 were wounded.

• In Baghdad, three police officers were killed and a fourth was wounded in a drive-by shooting yesterday morning. The officers were on their way to work and dressed in civilian clothes, according to Ministry of Interior officials.

• In Samawah, south of Baghdad, police opened fire on hundreds of demonstrators protesting the lack of electricity, water and other services. Protesters began throwing rocks and set fire to police vehicles. A source at the main local hospital said one civilian was killed and 46 people, including several police officers, were wounded.

Los Angeles Times reporter Hassan Halawa contributed to this report, which was supplemented by The Associated Press.