Vance
01-04-2004, 02:35 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/01/04/afghan.constitution/index.html
(CNN) -- After nearly three weeks of wrangling, Afghanistan's historic constitutional convention Sunday agreed on a new charter for the country, according to a journalist in Kabul.
Both sides of the loya jirga, or grand council, made compromises on many controversial issues, journalist Victoria Burnett said.
The 160-article document gives the president sweeping powers, but awards parliament the power to oversee those powers, including the appointment of cabinet ministers.
The constitution also names Dari and Pashto as Afghanistan's national languages, and recognizes other languages in specific, ethnic regions.
On Thursday, more than 200 of the 502 delegates refused to cast their ballots on the original draft constitution in protest over the content of the proposed constitution's 12 articles.
That draft, supported by U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai and members of the Pashtun majority, envisioned an Islamic republic with a bicameral legislature and a strong president, who also will serve as commander-in-chief of the military.
Critics -- most members of the minority northern tribes -- said the draft constitution gave one person too much control, since the president would appoint one-third of the legislature's upper house, as well as top judges and national security officials.
They sought a constitution that creates a parliament with more power over the president and the constitutional courts.
GG USA satellite. :D
(CNN) -- After nearly three weeks of wrangling, Afghanistan's historic constitutional convention Sunday agreed on a new charter for the country, according to a journalist in Kabul.
Both sides of the loya jirga, or grand council, made compromises on many controversial issues, journalist Victoria Burnett said.
The 160-article document gives the president sweeping powers, but awards parliament the power to oversee those powers, including the appointment of cabinet ministers.
The constitution also names Dari and Pashto as Afghanistan's national languages, and recognizes other languages in specific, ethnic regions.
On Thursday, more than 200 of the 502 delegates refused to cast their ballots on the original draft constitution in protest over the content of the proposed constitution's 12 articles.
That draft, supported by U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai and members of the Pashtun majority, envisioned an Islamic republic with a bicameral legislature and a strong president, who also will serve as commander-in-chief of the military.
Critics -- most members of the minority northern tribes -- said the draft constitution gave one person too much control, since the president would appoint one-third of the legislature's upper house, as well as top judges and national security officials.
They sought a constitution that creates a parliament with more power over the president and the constitutional courts.
GG USA satellite. :D