UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the completion of the new draft constitution of Iraq, a UN spokesman said on Sunday.

    In a statement issued by the spokesman, Annan said the new draft of the constitution is the result of an Iraqi-led and Iraqi-owned process.

    The Secretary-General also welcomed the earnest efforts made by all Iraqi political entities under the difficult circumstances in which this process took place, the spokesman said.

    According to the spokesman, Annan urged all Iraqi communities and political entities to continue to work together in a spirit ofnational reconciliation, "through a fully inclusive, transparent and participatory political process in the period leading to the national referendum."

    Annan was also pleased that the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq and its constitutional team have been able to provide the necessary support to the constitution-making process, the statement said.

    The Secretary-General instructed his special Representative Ashraf Qazi to continue efforts to promote national dialogue and consensus-building among all Iraqi communities and political entities, with a view to helping the Iraqi people build the foundations of a new peaceful, democratic and united Iraq.

    A final version of Iraq's draft constitution was signed by an overwhelming majority of the panel on Sunday. Enditem