Insurgents kill nine more in Iraq bombing
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-30 19:45

In Washington, the top American commander in Iraq said Thursday that the process of withdrawing U.S. troops depends greatly on the results of the referendum and elections set to follow if the constitution passes. "The next 75 days are going to be critical," Gen. George Casey told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

But Sunni Arab success in rejecting the constitution would set back the political process for months, prolonging Iraq's political instability.

Sunnis make up only 20 percent of the population, but they could defeat the charter because of a loophole in voting rules: If two-thirds of voters in any three of Iraq's 18 provinces vote "no," the referendum fails — even if an overall majority approves. There are four provinces where Sunnis could potentially cross that margin.

Sunni leaders complain the constitution does not emphasize Iraq's unity and Arab character. They say its federal system — which would allow Shiites in the south and Kurds in the north to form mini-states — will leave Sunnis in a weak middle region, cheated of oil resources.

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