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Iraq Constitution Appears Likely to Pass Referendum
Local election officials in Diyala province say 70 percent of the 400,000
people who voted there in Saturday's referendum said "yes" to the draft
constitution. Twenty-percent rejected it and 10 percent of the ballots were
rejected as being irregular.
Sunni Arabs, who largely reject the constitution because they believe it
gives too much power and oil wealth to rival Shi'ites and Kurds, form a majority
in Diyala, Salahaddin and Nineveh provinces. But all three provinces have
sizable populations of Shi'ites and Kurds, who mostly favor the constitution.
Without Diyala, Sunni Arabs now have a more difficult task reaching the
two-thirds "no" vote in three provinces that would be required to
nullify the
constitution. That has raised concern that Sunni dissatisfaction over the
charter could deepen sectarian and ethnic tension in Iraq, and strengthen the
Sunni-led insurgency.
Sunni Arabs lost power and have felt marginalized since U.S.-led forces
deposed Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein. Many Sunnis boycotted elections in
January in protest, which brought Iraq's long-oppressed Shi'ites and Kurds to
power.
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