Iraq’s draft constitution adopted

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s landmark constitution was adopted by a majority of voters during the country’s October 15 referendum, election officials said yesterday.

Results released by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq showed that Sunni Arabs, who had sharply opposed the draft document, failed to produce the three-quarters “no” vote they would have needed in at least three of Iraq’s 16 provinces to defeat it. The commission, which had been auditing the referendum results for 10 days, said at a news conference in Baghdad that Ninevah province had produced a “no” vote of only 55 per cent.Only two other mostly Sunni Arab provinces – Salahuddin and Anbar – had voted no by two-thirds or more.The constitution, which many Kurds and majority Shi’ites strongly support, is considered another major step in the country’s democratic transformation, clearing the way for the election of a new Iraqi parliament on December 15.Such steps are considered important in any decision about the future withdrawal of US-led forces from Iraq.The results came amid renewed strife marked by deadly attacks in Baghdad following a spectacular sundown blast targeting hotels housing foreign journalists and contractors.A civilian was killed and two wounded, including a child, when a powerful makeshift bomb hit a US convoy in western Baghdad early yesterday, an interior ministry source said.Another two people were killed in shooting attacks.Baghdad was recovering from a triple suicide car bomb attack against several hotels which killed at least 17 people Monday as Iraqis sat down to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.A cement truck packed with explosives was stopped before it reached the Sheraton hotel, and disappeared in a massive flash that sent up a towering column of grey and black smoke.The blasts rocked Firdus Square, where the statue of ousted president Saddam Hussein was pulled down when US troops marched into Baghdad in April 2003, and shook the Palestine, Sheraton and Sadir hotels.”If the cement truck had not been stopped in time by guards who opened fire, it would have totally devastated the Sheraton,” a security source said.In the past week, almost 100 people have been killed as the number and strength of attacks surged following the start of former dictator Saddam Hussein’s trial for crimes against humanity last Wednesday.The latest blasts underscored growing tension over the outcome of Iraq’s draft constitution, which hung on the undeclared results of Sunni-dominated Nineveh province after a second region rejected it.US and Iraqi officials hope the constitutional process will lead smoothly to general elections in mid-December and draw Sunni Arabs towards a political solution to end sectarian strife.- Nampa-AP-AFPThe commission, which had been auditing the referendum results for 10 days, said at a news conference in Baghdad that Ninevah province had produced a “no” vote of only 55 per cent.Only two other mostly Sunni Arab provinces – Salahuddin and Anbar – had voted no by two-thirds or more.The constitution, which many Kurds and majority Shi’ites strongly support, is considered another major step in the country’s democratic transformation, clearing the way for the election of a new Iraqi parliament on December 15.Such steps are considered important in any decision about the future withdrawal of US-led forces from Iraq.The results came amid renewed strife marked by deadly attacks in Baghdad following a spectacular sundown blast targeting hotels housing foreign journalists and contractors.A civilian was killed and two wounded, including a child, when a powerful makeshift bomb hit a US convoy in western Baghdad early yesterday, an interior ministry source said.Another two people were killed in shooting attacks.Baghdad was recovering from a triple suicide car bomb attack against several hotels which killed at least 17 people Monday as Iraqis sat down to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.A cement truck packed with explosives was stopped before it reached the Sheraton hotel, and disappeared in a massive flash that sent up a towering column of grey and black smoke.The blasts rocked Firdus Square, where the statue of ousted president Saddam Hussein was pulled down when US troops marched into Baghdad in April 2003, and shook the Palestine, Sheraton and Sadir hotels.”If the cement truck had not been stopped in time by guards who opened fire, it would have totally devastated the Sheraton,” a security source said.In the past week, almost 100 people have been killed as the number and strength of attacks surged following the start of former dictator Saddam Hussein’s trial for crimes against humanity last Wednesday.The latest blasts underscored growing tension over the outcome of Iraq’s draft constitution, which hung on the undeclared results of Sunni-dominated Nineveh province after a second region rejected it.US and Iraqi officials hope the constitutional process will lead smoothly to general elections in mid-December and draw Sunni Arabs towards a political solution to end sectarian strife.- Nampa-AP-AFP