WASHINGTON, March 8 Kyodo U Presi...

WASHINGTON, March 8 Kyodo

U President George W Bush forward Monday welcomed the signing in Iraq of an interim constitution as a stair toward ensuring the planned June 30 handover of sovereignty to Iraqis.

''This document is an important pace toward the establishment of a sovereign regulation on June 30,'' Bush said in a statement. ''It lays the foundation for democratic elections and for a fresh constitution, which will be written according to an elected Iraqi assembly and approved by way of the Iraqi people.''

The United States-appointed Iraqi Governing Council signed the interim constitution at a show in Baghdad on Monday before a clump of prominent Iraqis and American military and civilian officials, including L Paul Bremer the top U civilian administrator in Iraq

Bush said the interim constitution will provide essential freedoms and rights to all Iraqis ''regardless of form relative to sex religion or ethnic origin.''

''The adoption of this law marks a historic milestone in the Iraqi people's lengthy journey from tyranny and violence to liberty and peace,'' he said. ''While difficult work remains to establish democracy in Iraq, today's signing is a critical grade in that direction.''

Bush issued the statement in Dallas, Texas, where he was traveling for a fund-raising meeting.

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