Iraq draft constitution approved, officials say

Results from Oct. 15 referendum indicate 78.59 percent backed charter

Iraq�s constitution was adopted by a majority in a fair vote during the Oct. 15 referendum, as Sunni Arab opponents failed to muster enough support to defeat it, election officials said Tuesday.

The referendum results, announced after a 10-day audit following allegations of fraud, confirmed previous indications that Sunni Arabs failed to produce the two-thirds �no� vote they would have needed in at least three of Iraq�s 18 provinces to defeat the constitution.

The charter is considered a major step in Iraq�s democratic reforms, clearing the way for the election of a new, full-term parliament on Dec. 15. Such steps are important in any decision about the future withdrawal of U.S.-led forces.

Carina Perelli, the U.N. elections chief, praised a �very good job� with the audit of results by election officials and said �Iraq should be proud of the commission.�

Iraq�s top two coalition partners, the United States and Britain, also welcomed the results.

�The Iraqis are making inspiring progress toward building a democracy,� President Bush said. �By any standard or precedent of history, Iraq has made incredible political progress, from tyranny to liberation to national elections to the ratification of a constitution in the space of two and a half years.�

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Iraqis �have shown again their determination to defy the terrorists and take part in the democratic process.� Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini also welcomed the results, saying Italy would keep supporting the political process in the country.

Farid Ayar, an official with the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, said the audit had turned up no significant fraud.