BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Leaders of the United Nations and the European Union (EU) as well as the United States hailed Iraq's constitutional referendum on Saturday.

    UN Secretary General Kofi Annan congratulated the Iraqi people on the referendum, saying it represents a chance for the country to move away from violence and toward unity.

    "For the second time this year, the people of Iraq have braved difficult conditions and the threat of violence to exercise the vote," Annan's spokesman said in a statement, calling the referendum "an important opportunity for the Iraqi people to express their political views."

    "Whatever the outcome, the Secretary-General believes that this referendum offers an opportunity for all Iraqis to move away from violence and to unite in a spirit of national reconciliation to build a democratic, unified and prosperous Iraq," he added.

    The statement said the UN will go on to do all it can to help the Iraqi people to that end.

    Carina Perelli, head of UN team providing technical assistance to the Iraqi government, also said that "The process has gone smoothly and well from a technical point of view."

    Iraqi voters kicked off the voting on a draft constitution on Saturday, three days after Iraqi leaders announced that an agreement had been reached to amend the draft constitution.

    An electoral official said eight of Iraq's 18 provinces, including three Sunni Arab provinces, had a turnout of more than 66 percent in the referendum.

    Also on Saturday, the EU welcomed the holding of the referendum in Iraq, saying that it was an important step towards democracy and stability in Iraq.

    Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, said in a statement: "This vote was an important step to a future in which political differences will be settled in Iraq through democratic dialogue, and not through violence."

    The commissioner said that the EU executive European Commissionremains committed to supporting the Iraqis in their efforts to build a stable and prosperous country.

    US President George W. Bush on Saturday described the referendum as "a critical step forward" in the country's move towards democracy.

    "By casting their ballots, the Iraqi people deal a severe blow to the terrorists and send a clear message to the world: Iraqis will decide the future of their country through peaceful elections,not violent insurgency," Bush said in his weekly radio address.

    Bush spoke highly of the last-minute compromise that won some backing from Iraq's Sunni minority, which has offered support to Iraq's insurgency, and said that the resulting document "protects fundamental freedoms and lays the foundation for a lasting democracy."

    Bush also reiterated his objection to growing calls for settinga timeline for withdrawing the roughly 140,000 US troops from Iraq,saying that doing so would hand terrorists like the Al-Qaeda network a much-desired victory.

    "Al Qaeda believes that America can be made to run again. They are gravely mistaken," Bush said. "America will not run, and we will not forget our responsibilities."

    US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also welcomed Iraq's referendum as an "important milestone."

    Rice said a democratic Iraq would help bring peace to the Middle East and end the "extremist ideology of hatred" that produced suicide bombers.

    The result of the referendum is expected to be announced next week.

    According to the timetable of Iraq's political process, new elections will be held by the end of this year to form a new parliament if the charter is approved in the referendum.

    However, if two thirds of voters in any three of the 18 provinces say no in the referendum, the charter will be vetoed andthe parliament will then be dissolved. Enditem