Sunday, October 16 2005 18:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Iraq's draft constitution has 'probably passed' in a referendum, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters during a short visit to London today (Oct 16, 2005).

"There is a belief that it has probably passed. But again, we'll see," Rice said before holding talks later in the day with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

She spoke after hearing 'the assessment of the people on the ground'.

The secretary of state had earlier today spoken to US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad in Baghdad.

More than 60 percent of the 15.5 million Iraqi voters cast their ballots in yesterday's referendum, according to initial estimates, with the process coming off without the violence that had marred elections in January.

An initial results forecast might be available within two days, with an unofficial tally on Thursday and a final announcement on October 24, though that timeframe could change, senior electoral official Farid Ayyar said.

The landmark constitution was aimed at laying the framework for an era post Saddam Hussein, who was ousted less than a month after the US-lead invasion of Iraq in March 2003, backed by British troops.