WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- US President George W. Bush said on Monday that he was optimistic about Iraq's future and a constitutional referendum scheduled for October.

    "I'm very optimistic about Iraq because, first of all, I believe, deep in everybody's soul, is the desire to be free," Bush said in a brief trip in El Mirage, Arizona.

    Bush downplayed rifts over the draft constitution, which was togo to Iraqi voters despite being rejected by representatives of the minority Sunni Arab community in the country.

    "Instead of using guns to decide the fate of the future, Iraqisfrom all aspects of their society came together and wrote a constitution. This constitution is one that honors women's rights and freedom of religion.

    "Not everybody agreed with it, but now the Iraqi people get to decide, they get to debate, they get to make the decision this fall as to whether or not that constitution will be the constitution that governs their society," Bush said.

    On Sunday, Bush hailed a draft Iraqi constitution, saying "Thisis a document of which the Iraqis and the rest of the world can be proud."

    A referendum on the constitution is scheduled for mid-October and parliamentary elections are due in December. Enditem