WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States on Wednesday welcomed an agreement among Iraqi political leaders over amendment of a draft constitution, saying that it signified the political process "is working".

    "The United States welcomes the agreement that was reached on the Iraqi constitution by the political parties and leaders and people of Iraq," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said at a news briefing.

    The agreement signals that the upcoming vote in a referendum on Iraq's constitution, scheduled for Oct. 15, will be broadly inclusive, Ereli said.

    "This is certainly a positive development," the spokesman said."so what we're seeing is a political process that is working and that is producing dialogue and compromise over very sensitive issues for all the communities in Iraq."

    Iraqi leaders announced on Wednesday that an agreement has been reached to amend the draft constitution. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Parliament Speaker Hachim al-Hasanni said that the National Assembly (parliament) will convene Wednesday night to vote on the agreement and amendments.

    A draft of Iraq's constitution, which should have been submitted to parliament on Aug. 15, has been dogged by disputes over a number of key issues including federalism, the role of Islam and sharing of oil wealth.

    Iraq's 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