Iraq charter ready for referendum

"The draft constitution is ready and will be presented to the Iraqi people, who are known for their intelligence, to give their verdict on October 15," Talabani told reporters at a ceremony to mark the end of the drafting process.

"There are objections from our Sunni Arab brothers ... but nobody can claim that they represent the whole spectrum of Sunni Arabs," said the president, who is a Kurd. "If the nation rejects it, we will write another one."

Bush hailed the draft constitution, calling it "an inspiration" for supporters of democracy.

"This is a document of which the Iraqis, and the rest of the world, can be proud," Bush told reporters from his Texas ranch.