“No” percentage is 70% in the Salahaddin province of Iraq: Local official

If at least 3 provinces with Sunni Arab majorities have similar results, the referendum held on Saturday will defeat the draft constitution

DEBKAfile Intelligence

October 17, 2005

But if at least 3 provinces with Sunni Arab majorities have similar results, the referendum held on Saturday will defeat the draft constitution.

Rice estimated the constitution had probably passed, although partial results not expected before Thursday. Turnout in the Sunni districts was high - 80-90% and low in the Kurdish regions.

Tight security kept terrorist attacks to well below the daily average.

If the vote goes against the constitution, the December general election will be limited to an interim government which will have to rewrite the document.