Iz al-Deen (R), head of the Iraqi Independent Electoral Commission, delivers a speech on the referendum of Iraq's draft constitution at a press conference in Baghdad, capital of Iraq on Oct. 25, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

   BAGHDAD, Oct. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraq's draft constitution has been ratified in the Oct. 15 referendum, the electoral commission quoted official results as saying on Tuesday.

   The charter passed by a simple majority while opponents of the document failed to defeat it in two-thirds of voters in any three provinces of Iraq's 18 province.

   Officials from the Iraqi Independent Electoral Commission told reporters that 78 percent of voters said 'yes' to the draft whereas 21 percent voted 'no' in Iraq's 18 provinces.

   Ninveveh province, the third Sunni-dominated province, voted no to the US-backed charter with only 55 percent, falling short of a needed two thirds to beat the draft, said the electoral commission.

   Under Iraq's interim constitution, if two thirds of the voters in any three of Iraq's 18 provinces say no, the charter will be vetoed and parliament dissolved.

   Another two Sunni-dominated provinces, Anbar and Salahudin, voted no to the constitution with 96 percent and 81 percent, respectively.

   "It is an achievement of all Iraqis," said Farid Ayar, spokesman of commission commenting on the results ten days after the referendum.

   "Whatever the results of the referendum are, it is a civilized step that aims to put Iraq on the path of true democracy," Ayar said before reading the final results. Enditem