10 million vote in historic Iraq referendum (18/10/05)

Iraqi officials counted ballots today after a historic vote on a constitution with the fate of the document in the hands of a few provinces where Sunnis may muster enough 'No' votes to block it.

The Bush administration has praised the new constitution

Election officials said partial results from the vote could be available as early today, but that it would take several days for the verdict to become clear.

If the constitution passes Iraq will go to the polls again in December to elect a new, four-year parliament in a step that Washington says will mark its full emergence as a sovereign democracy and new Western ally.

A 'No' vote would force the country's warring factions back to the drawing board, limiting December's election to a new interim government to redraft the charter.

Most of Iraq's 18 provinces were expected to support the constitution, following Shi'ite and Kurdish government leaders who have tailored many of its provisions to their needs.

Electoral officials said as many as 10 million of Iraq's eligible 15.5 million voters cast ballots, which would give a turnout of around 65 percent -- higher than the 58 percent recorded in January.

Despite the uncertainty, Saturday's election won praise from the United Nations and the Bush Administration. "The vote today is an important milestone. They will have elections in December for a permanent government. Every time the Iraqi people have been given an opportunity to express themselves politically they have taken it," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the BBC in an interview.

Source: TradeArabia