Rice in London: Iraq’s constitution referendum has probably passed

Her estimate came before even partial results released -- 66% voted in some places

DEBKAfile Intelligence

October 14, 2005

In the Sunni areas of Iraq turnout was high, low in the Kurdish regions, in Saturday’s referendum on a new Iraqi referendum. In some places, 66% voted. Tight security kept terrorist attacks to well below the daily average. Final results not expected before next week. The big question now is which way the Sunni Muslims voted in the regions where they are preponderant: Nineveh, Salah-edin Diyala and Anbar.

A two-thirds anti-constitution vote in three provinces out of 18 would defeat the constitution seen as a blueprint for Iraq’s future.

Then, the December general election would be limited to an interim government for redrafting the charter, instead of its first democratically elected four-year parliament.