BAGHDAD - Iraqis vote Saturday in a referendum for a new constitution aimed at turning another page in the country's political transition following the toppling of Saddam Hussein in April 2003.

Here are facts and figures on the referendum, being organised by the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq:

- Voters will be asked a simple question: "Do You Approve the Draft Constitution of Iraq" and will have to make a single mark under "Yes" or "No" in the appropriate box.

- There are about 15.5 million eligible voters out of Iraq's total estimated population of 26 million.

An eligible voter must be an Iraqi citizen, legally competent, aged at least 18 years and registered to vote. They will be assigned to voting centres based on food rationing cards or their registration for last January's elections.

- Around 6,000 polling stations across the country will open on Saturday from 7 am (0400 GMT) to 5 pm (1400 GMT)

- There is no out-of-country voting, unlike the January elections, so Iraqis may only participate in the referendum if they are in Iraq and have registered.

"The general referendum will be successful and the draft constitution ratified if a majority of voters in Iraq approve and two-thirds of the voters in three or more governorates do not reject it," the commission said.

"The decision is yours."

Elections are due to be held in December, whether or not the charter is approved.

Counting of the ballots will be conducted at the polling stations in the presence of election observers and representatives of political parties. The final results will be tallied at the commission's headquarters in Baghdad.

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