Iraq constitution ‘probably passed’: Rice

LONDON – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that Iraqis had probably approved a US-backed draft constitution in a historic referendum that she predicted would reduce insurgent violence.

“Most people assume on the ground that it probably has passed,” Rice told reporters during a visit to London. The top US diplomat hailed the turnout, particularly in Sunni Arab areas, where she said voter numbers had roughly doubled compared with parliamentary elections in January.Basing her figures on reports from US officials in Iraq, Rice said the overall turnout was about 63-64 per cent, which was also higher than in January.In Saturday’s referendum, voters were asked whether they approved a controversial draft constitution drawn up under the supervision of Iraq’s Shi’ite- and Kurdish-led government in the face of opposition from Sunni Arabs.In the past, US officials have predicted previous political milestones – such as January’s parliamentary elections and last year’s transfer of sovereignty – would weaken the insurgency but the violence has not abated.Asked if Saturday’s vote would reduce the violence, Rice said: “What it will certainly help to do is broaden the base of the political process …which means that those who are either sitting on the fence or are supportive somehow of the violence will diminish.””Ultimately insurgencies have to be defeated politically …You defeat them by sapping them of their political support, and, increasingly, Iraqis are throwing their support behind the political process – not behind the violence.So I think over time, it will,” she added.She also praised Iraqi security forces, who provided the first line of defence against insurgent attacks on polling stations.The level of violence during the referendum was much lower than many observers had feared.Still, Rice, a key architect of the US invasion of Iraq, predicted insurgents would seek to increase their attacks in the buildup to parliamentary elections in December.Although the national vote in the referendum is certain to approve the constitution by a wide margin, it can be vetoed if two-thirds of voters in three provinces reject it.With a two-thirds “No” vote likely in the strongly Sunni Arab provinces of Anbar and Salahadin, attention is focusing on Nineveh which has a large Sunni Arab population but also large numbers of Kurds who broadly back the constitution.Election officials have said it could take several days for the verdict to become clear.Compromises in the days before the vote helped win more Sunni Arab backing for the draft.Should the “Yes” vote win, Shi’ite and Kurdish leaders have agreed to allow debates on amending the constitution in the new parliament.- Nampa-ReutersThe top US diplomat hailed the turnout, particularly in Sunni Arab areas, where she said voter numbers had roughly doubled compared with parliamentary elections in January.Basing her figures on reports from US officials in Iraq, Rice said the overall turnout was about 63-64 per cent, which was also higher than in January.In Saturday’s referendum, voters were asked whether they approved a controversial draft constitution drawn up under the supervision of Iraq’s Shi’ite- and Kurdish-led government in the face of opposition from Sunni Arabs.In the past, US officials have predicted previous political milestones – such as January’s parliamentary elections and last year’s transfer of sovereignty – would weaken the insurgency but the violence has not abated.Asked if Saturday’s vote would reduce the violence, Rice said: “What it will certainly help to do is broaden the base of the political process …which means that those who are either sitting on the fence or are supportive somehow of the violence will diminish.””Ultimately insurgencies have to be defeated politically …You defeat them by sapping them of their political support, and, increasingly, Iraqis are throwing their support behind the political process – not behind the violence.So I think over time, it will,” she added.She also praised Iraqi security forces, who provided the first line of defence against insurgent attacks on polling stations.The level of violence during the referendum was much lower than many observers had feared.Still, Rice, a key architect of the US invasion of Iraq, predicted insurgents would seek to increase their attacks in the buildup to parliamentary elections in December.Although the national vote in the referendum is certain to approve the constitution by a wide margin, it can be vetoed if two-thirds of voters in three provinces reject it.With a two-thirds “No” vote likely in the strongly Sunni Arab provinces of Anbar and Salahadin, attention is focusing on Nineveh which has a large Sunni Arab population but also large numbers of Kurds who broadly back the constitution.Election officials have said it could take several days for the verdict to become clear.Compromises in the days before the vote helped win more Sunni Arab backing for the draft.Should the “Yes” vote win, Shi’ite and Kurdish leaders have agreed to allow debates on amending the constitution in the new parliament.- Nampa-Reuters