Saddam to be allowed to vote in Iraqi referendum

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein will be entitled to participate in Iraq's upcoming nationwide referendum in which Iraqis will vote "yes" or "no" to the country's first constitution.

Amongst Iraq's 26 million citizens, an estimated 10,000 imprisoned Iraqis, most of whom are Sunnis, will also be allowed to vote.

Saddam, who will go on trial four days after the referendum for the murder of 143 inhabitants of a Shiite village north of Baghdad, is expected to waive his right, as the constitution to be voted on bans the former "Saddamist Baath Party".