On the Streets of Iraq, Scenes of Joy and Determination

A boy greets a U.S. Marine with a playful gesture near a polling station in Fallujah, Iraq. With a security ban on private vehicles imposed in many places for the referendum, children were able to briefly reclaim the streets. (By Ben Curtis -- Associated Press)

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Brothers Naseer Abbas and Munthir Abbas Elaiwi, 38 and 26, arrived at polling center No. 65012 in Baghdad's Karrada neighborhood ready to vote with their blood.

The center's director, Emad Abdul Majeed, rushed up with a pin and pricked their thumbs. The two men smeared a bloody print over the "yes" box, then dipped their forefingers in purple ink to prove they had voted. Onlookers beamed at the ritual, popularized under Hussein, signifying that they would sacrifice their blood for what they believed in.

"We are ready to defend this constitution with our blood," Naseer said. The constitution "serves not only the poor and the dispossessed, but it's fair to all segments of society."

His brother, a day laborer, said he read the charter and found it modern and satisfying.

"It will bring all that is good for the people, such as stability, democracy and peace," he said. "With such a charter, we will show the world that we are a civilized nation, not a bunch of ignorant and bloodthirsty extremists."

Reported by correspondent Ellen Knickmeyer and special correspondent K.I. Ibrahim in Baghdad; correspondent Jonathan Finer and special correspondents Naseer Nouri and Saad Sarhan in Najaf; special correspondent Dlovan Brwari in Mosul; and staff writer Jackie Spinner in Sulaymaniyah.