Iraq's parliament today reversed its decision over rules governing the referendum on a new constitution due to be held in ten days.
On Sunday, parliament voted to change the rules for the referendum. Previously two thirds of voter turnout in any three of the 18 constituencies was required to defeat the proposal but in a vote strongly condemned by the United Nations, parliament changed the requirement to two thirds of registered voters in any three constituencies.
The decision meant the constitution was almost certain to pass and the UN said the system would not meet international standards.
Hussain al-Shahristani, the deputy speaker of parliament said after today's vote that the original system would be used in the October 15 threferendum.
Mahmoud Othman, an independent Kurdish lawmaker who had campaigned against parliament's earlier decision, said he was pleased it had been reversed.
"The decision the other day was wrong, it was unfair and it was not democratic," he said.
"Now when we say voters, we mean those people who put their ballots in the box, as it should be."
The earlier decision by parliament was rammed through by Shi'ites and Kurds, who dominate the chamber and who want to ensure that the constitution, largely drafted by them, is passed.
Many Sunni Arabs, a minority in Iraq, reject the constitution, saying it favours the Shi'ites and Kurds, and are hoping they might be able to defeat it at the referendum if they can rally enough "No" votes.