Sectarian tensions increase in Iraq after referendum

For Iraq's Shia Muslims, Saturday's referendum on a new constitution was reason for celebration - the consecration of their rise…

For Iraq's Shia Muslims, Saturday's referendum on a new constitution was reason for celebration - the consecration of their rise to power.

For the angry Sunnis, it was a motivation to participate for the first time in the "democratic process" devised by US occupation forces, albeit to say No.

In the Shia slums of Sadr City, women distributed sweets and cakes to children in the street, while triumphant demonstrators chanted, "Our constitution has been adopted. Death to the Baathists." Residents of Hilla, the Shia city next to Babylon that has suffered terribly at the hands of suicide bombers, marched through the streets playing music.

The scene was different in the Sunni cities of Anbar and Salaheddine provinces, which are believed to have delivered a massive No to the US-backed charter.

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Results will not be announced for five days, but the Sunnis are unlikely to achieve the two-thirds majority in three provinces required to scuttle the constitution.

Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari, a Shia, said the mere fact that they voted was a victory.

The referendum campaign, and the imminence of Saddam Hussein's trial, due to start on Wednesday, have raised animosity between Shia and Sunni to new levels. "The Shia are ignorant people," an intense 21-year-old Sunni science student called Omar told me, sitting in an empty restaurant, without food or drink because this is Ramadan.

"What do the Shia know about constitutions or freedom or unity? Most of them are thieves."

Hussein Hendawi, the head of the Electoral Commission, told Reuters that turnout was 63 or 64 per cent, but later denied any percentages had been quoted. In January, the commission initially estimated participation at 72 per cent. The definitive figure was 58 per cent.

Salah Mutlaq, a Sunni leader who opposed the constitution, criticised US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for saying the constitution had probably been approved. "I believe it is a signal to the Electoral Commission to pass the constitution," he said, echoing the belief of many Sunnis that results will be fixed at Adnan Palace, the interior ministry building in the "Green Zone".

US forces reported only nine attacks in Baghdad, with no loss of life: one roadside bomb, two mortar firings, two rocket-propelled grenade explosions and four incidents of small-arms fire. Saadoun Zubaidi, a Sunni who helped to draft the constitution, said election day was peaceful because Iraqi insurgents "were more interested in letting people vote No".

Five US soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi, where few voted because of continued fighting. At Saqlawiyah, also in the "Sunni Triangle", a US Marine died in another bombing, bringing the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq to 1,971. The US increased its troop strength in Iraq from 138,000 to 152,000 soldiers to provide extra security for the referendum. Two and a half years after they overthrew Saddam Hussein, the US is still bombing Iraq to make it safe for democracy.

"Major operations such as Iron Fist, River Gate and Mountaineers neutralised the terrorists' stated goal of disrupting the referendum," said a US Military press release.

In the town of Balad, US Lt Col Jody Petery bombarded areas from which insurgents have fired mortars and rocket launchers from 10pm on Friday until just before the polls opened at 7am on Saturday.

He wanted to keep shelling, but his commanding officer thought it might frighten off voters.