AMID unexpected calm, millions of Iraqis turned out in the sunshine yesterday to vote on a new constitution whose advocates claimed it would unite the country in a progressive democracy but whose critics warned that it would ultimately prove divisive.

President George W Bush hailed the referendum as a milestone on Iraq’s slow march to a democratic future. Ibrahim al-Jafaari, the Shi’ite prime minister, called it a historic day and predicted that voters would say a resounding “yes” to the constitution.

But most of the minority Sunnis — who held sway in the era of Saddam Hussein — were expected to vote against it, mainly on the grounds that it gives the Shi’ites and Kurds too much power in the oil-rich regions where they predominate.

Opponents of the constitution were cheered last night by official figures showing more than 66% had turned out to vote in three crucial Sunni-majority provinces — Salahuddin, Diyala and Ninevah. Overall turnout across Iraq was 61%.

Although the constitution could be adopted if a simple majority of all voters approves, the rules make provision for it to be overturned if two-thirds of voters in at least three of Iraq’s 18 provinces are opposed. Sunnis are in the majority in four provinces. The electoral commission said results would take three or four days.

Sunni insurgents appeared to have made surprisingly little effort to disrupt the voting, however. Following threats of slaughter at the polling stations, American Humvees roared through the streets of Baghdad and helicopters hovered in the skies as voting began at 7am.

The insurgents had sabotaged one of the main power stations before dawn, plunging the capital and several other towns into darkness.

As the morning wore on, they attacked three of Baghdad’s polling stations, injuring at least six civilians in a series of explosions. Three Iraqi soldiers were also killed in an attack on a military convoy east of Baquba, near the Iranian border, and there was violence in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, and outside Basra in the south.

By recent Iraqi standards, however, this was a relatively peaceful day, and once the early tension had dissipated, more and more people ventured out to cast their ballots. Mothers even seemed content to take babies and toddlers with them.

With private vehicles banned to prevent car bombings, children ran into the tranquil streets to play or rode their bicycles. Young men waved the Iraqi flag and chanted in unison.

More than 15.5m Iraqis were eligible to vote at 6,000 polling stations, although turnout in the capital seemed down on last January’s elections for a transitional national assembly.

There was only one question, printed in both Arabic and Kurdish: “Do you support the draft constitution?” Voters could answer “yes” or “no”.

“Of course I said ‘yes’,” said Um Lina, a Shi’ite mother casting her vote in a school in Karadeh in central Baghdad. “This constitution is our guarantee of a better future and it will be the starting point for security in this country.”

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