With reporters chomping at the bit to announce indictments against key White
House officials, they seem to have ignored this major historic event
yesterday:


Iraq's New Constitution Passed by a Hairsbreadth
By Foreign News Desk
Published: Wednesday, October 26, 2005
zaman.com

The Iraqi constitution put to a public vote on October 15 has been accepted
following the insufficient number of "no" votes recorded in the Sunni
province Ninova.

At least "two third majority" rejection from 18 provinces was required from
the total votes cast for the rejection of the constitution.

Following the Sunni provinces of Salahaddin saying "no" with 81 percent, and
Al Anbar with 96.6 percent, the percentage of "no" votes in Ninova reached
only 55 percent.

Iraqi Electoral Commission member Farid Ayar announced the official results
in the press conference held Tuesday.

Voter turnout was at 63 percentand the total "yes" votes was 78 percent;
therefore, Ayar said, the Iraqi charter was officially passed.

The electoral commission officials and United National authorities "could
not find any corruption that would affect the results of the referendum." In
the remaining provinces including Diala, the fourth province with a Sunni
majority, the number of "yes" votes for the constitution emerged higher than
the "no" votes. Reportedly, vote counting will be repeated in some
districts, however, the constitution was approved in the referendum and the
new parliament, with full constitutional authorization for four years, will
be chosen in the general elections planned to be held on December 15.