USA welcomes progress in Iraq; road ahead unclear

US President George W. Bush expressed his happiness over the progress that has been attained, in Iraq.

Meanwhile, the UN secretary general Kofi Annan said that the formulations of the constitution has not contributed to unifying the ranks of the Iraqis, and that violence will be escalated despite the fact it seems to have been approved, considering that it is premature whether this constitution will unify the country or leads to partitioning it to three separate Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish states.

The US military had stated previously assessments about the situation in Iraq that are similar to what Annan said.

Former US secretary of state Colin Powell said that the referendum is an important step forward but it is "not the end of the game." He added on Monday in his meeting with CNN that the USA still faces a strong rebellion and an extended one in Iraq "that should be defeated on the ground and at the political level."

He continued that hard days are waiting for the USA in Iraq. A matter which requires the completion of the constitution now so as to proceed into finding a permanent government through elections that are carried out by the end of the year.