BAGHDAD, Oct 13: Iraq sealed itself off from the outside world on Thursday, starting a four-day lockdown to thwart guerillas from wrecking its constitutional referendum. Aside from the armed conflict, a US-brokered deal to defuse Sunni political opposition achieved at least a split in the ‘No’ camp by winning endorsements for the charter from some — in return for a pledge to consider amendments after the vote.
At least eight people, among them three policemen and a US soldier, were killed in attacks across the country, but tight security may be working. A US general said daily attacks were down some 40 per cent compared to January’s election campaign.
Shias and Kurds — some three quarters of the 15 million voters — are likely to ensure a ‘Yes’ majority nationwide, but a two thirds ‘No’ vote in three of 18 provinces would veto it.
Though many in the Sunni regions of the west and north oppose the constitution, division among their leaders and militant threats against voters make a veto unlikely. That said, straw polls around the country show widespread mixed feelings.
Announcing nationwide curfews as the first Iraqis cast early ballots in hospitals and prisons, Interior Minister Bayan Jabor said frontiers would close from midnight (2100 GMT) until Sunday. Businesses shut for a four-day holiday and private vehicles were banned from overnight travel and all day Saturday.
Two attacks damaged a Sunni group’s offices in Falluja after the Iraqi Islamic Party broke ranks and backed the constitution once parliament had made some minor amendments on Wednesday.
On Thursday, a second prominent Sunni group rallied behind the deal, which sets up a new round of negotiations to craft a consensus on constitutional amendments next year in return for backing the present draft and sticking to a timetable laid down last year by US officials keen to ensure an exit for US troops.
“As a way out of this ... dark tunnel and to avoid starting all over again from scratch ... the Sunni Endowment has decided to support the Iraqi Islamic Party in voting ‘Yes’,” the movement said in a statement.
“Living under a flawed law is better than chaos and anarchy.”
Washington was concerned that though defeat for the charter was unlikely, forcing it through in the teeth of Sunni hostility could heighten rather than lessen the risks of further violence.
US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad conceded there was still much negotiation ahead to bridge the remaining divides.
“The draft constitution ... is moving toward becoming the national compact Iraq needs,” he told reporters. “There are issues that the Iraqis have to deal and come to terms with, like federalism, the role of religion, resources, rights of women.”
Other Sunnis accused their former allies of being duped, arguing that even new negotiations in the next parliament may not answer their concerns, especially about devolution.
