Sunni party attacked after backing constitution

MILITANTS launched five attacks against the largest Sunni Arab political party on the eve of Iraq's crucial referendum yesterday, bombing and burning offices and the home of one of its leaders after the group dropped its opposition to the draft constitution.

The reprisals came as Sunni and Shiite clerics gave their last advice to their followers in sermons during Friday prayers.

Shiite imams transmitted the word of the community's most powerful cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani: "Go to the polls and vote 'yes'."

The message among the Sunni Arab minority was mixed after the Iraqi Islamic Party gave its support to the constitution after last-minute changes were made to the draft in an attempt to assuage Sunni objections ahead of today's referendum.

This infuriated many within the Sunni community with Sheik Rasheed Yousif al-Khishman denouncing the decision while preaching at the main mosque in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's home town.

He said the Islamic Party had "broke the nationalist ranks in return for nothing". He told people to vote against the "infidel constitution written by foreign hands".

Mosques throughout the town told people to cast "no" votes and warned "anyone who does not go to the polls is not considered a Sunni".

Coalition forces closed Iraq's borders and its international airport in Baghdad in an effort to improve security to protect voters ahead of the vote.