Sunday, October 16 2005 16:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: Iraqi election officials counted today (Oct 16, 2005) mounds of ballots from an historic referendum on their new constitution, following a strong turnout hailed by world leaders as a milestone for the country.

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.

Over 60 percent of the 15.5 million Iraqi voters cast their ballots, according to initial estimates, with the process coming off without the violence that marred elections in January.

Iraqis sent celebratory gunfire into the sky and Shiites danced in the streets of Baghdad after the polls closed, anticipating what they believed was certain approval of the country's first constitution since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime.

"Our constitution has been approved, down with the Baathists!" chanted a joyful crowd, referring to members of Saddam's disbanded political party. Shiites and Kurds who were oppressed during Saddam's reign were expected to have massively approved the draft document.

But attention focused on members of the Sunni Arab minority, many of whom fear domination by an alliance of Shiites and Kurds and loss of crucial oil revenues.

The charter requires a simple majority for approval but would be rejected if a two-thirds majority in at least three of the country's 18 provinces vote 'no.'