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Fears of irregularities in Constitution vote

Atul Aneja

Figures are a matter of concern, says official

MANAMA: Apprehensions are being expressed about possible irregularities during the national referendum on Iraq's Constitution held on Saturday.

Chief electoral officer Adel Alami is on record saying the voting figures were a matter of concern. In some provinces, almost all the votes approved the Constitution and in others, a negative vote was overwhelming. In such circumstances, the ballots would have to be audited, in accordance with internationally accepted rules, officials said.

Some election personnel have also questioned remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the Constitution appeared to have been approved.

Hussein Hindawi, an official at the commission, said he was "surprised" by the observation. "As far as I know, she does not work at the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI)," he said. Karina Parelli, head of the United Nations Election Assistance Team in Iraq, also questioned Dr. Rice's controversial statement.

U.S. soldiers killed

Four American soldiers have been killed in two separate attacks on the Wednesday when the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, was brought for trial on charges of crimes against humanity. Three U.S. soldiers died and another was wounded in a blast near the town of Balad, 80 km north of Baghdad. A few hours earlier, another U.S. soldier was killed and four were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near Tikrit, Mr. Hussein's hometown.

At least 1,980 American troops have been killed in Iraq so far following the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. There has been a recent spurt in the killings, with 12 U.S. military personnel dying since Saturday.

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