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Iraqi President Saddam Hussein won 100 percent of votes in a referendum for a new term in office, official results showed on Wednesday.
Saddam's top deputy Izzat Ibrahim, reading official results at a news conference in Baghdad, said turnout was also 100 percent in Tuesday's referendum.
Nearly 12 million Iraqis were eligible to answer a simple "Yes" or "No" for another seven-year term for Saddam, who has ruled Iraq for 23 years through the tight grip of the military and police.
The authorities had urged voters to turn out in force to show massive support for Saddam in the face of US threats of military action and President George W. Bush's declared desire to remove him from power.
The United States has dismissed the vote and said it lacked any credibility.
(China Daily October 16, 2002)
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