BAGHDAD, Aug. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Hundreds of Sunni and Shiite Arabs took to the streets in the town of Hawija near Kirkuk in northern Iraq Wednesday to protest against the draft constitution which includes federalism, witnesses said.

    The Sunni Arabs and followers of the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr held up banners that reads "Yes to unity, No to partition" and chanted slogans against the draft constitution and federalism.

    Protestors said they were going to register their names in the coming referendum to veto federalism which they said is aimed at extending the borders of the Kurdish autonomous region to pave the way to separation.

    Iraq's parliament received the draft constitution before Monday's deadline but put off a vote on it for three days in order to reach consensus on some outstanding issues including federalism.     

    The Sunni Arab minority remained opposed to federalism favored by the Kurds and some Shiite muslims who together dominated the parliament.

    The draft constitution must be approved by a simple majority of the 275-member National Assembly before being put to a referendum by Oct.15. If any three of Iraq's 18 provinces reject the draft by two-thirds, the constitution will be vetoed.    Enditem