Differences still overshadow Afghan constitution assembly

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 31, 2003

Differences still overshadow Afghan constitution assembly

Differences over Afghanistan's new national document still dominated the ongoing constitutional assembly despite expectations that the landmark event would conclude soon, an official said on Tuesday.

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Differences over Afghanistan's new national document still dominated the ongoing constitutional assembly despite expectations that the landmark event would conclude soon, an official said on Tuesday.

"Different opinions among delegates on some controversial articles of the draft constitution are hindering us to conclude the assembly," Safia Sidiqi, spokeswoman and deputy chairperson of the assembly, told a press conference.

Assembly chairman Sibghatullah Mujadadi earlier predicted that the gathering would hopefully conclude on Tuesday.

According to Sidiqi, the controversial issues include the future political system, national languages, the role of dual nationality holders in the country's politics and the presidentialauthority.

Over 500 delegates from across the country have gathered here for over two weeks to discuss the draft constitution prepared by the US-backed government led by President Hamid Karzai.

The Loya Jirga, or grand assembly, is expected to ratify the post-war country's new constitution, which would pave the way for next year's general elections.

Asked to comment on reported involvement of US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad in the assembly affairs, the spokeswoman said that such claims were baseless.

"Like other foreign guests, Khalilzad too was only sitting at the assembly hall and watching the proceeding," said Sidiqi.

The assembly is being held in a huge tent at a west Kabul campus, where Karzai's US-installed administration was legitimizedby a similar emergency Loya Jirga in June 2002.

It is widely believed here that the United States is supportingKarzai to become Afghanistan's first elected president to lead thecountry's recovery from over two decades of war.

"Today is not the last day of the Jirga, but I am hopeful tomorrow will be the last day," the spokeswoman said while asked about the possible conclusion of the constitutional assembly.

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