Afghans embrace new constitution
Afghanistan’s grand assembly or loya jirga has backed a new constitution, ending three weeks of tense discussions.
The 502 delegates at the assembly overwhelmingly backed the constitution that will give the war-ravaged country a strong presidential system.
The Islamic practice of consensus rather than secret ballot ruled the day.
Current leader Hamid Karzai and his two vice presidents have lent support to the new charter.
Delegates also moved to rename the country the “Islamic Republic of Afghanistan”.
The approval of the constitution now makes way for free elections in Afghanistan.
President Karzai said: “There is no winner or loser. Everybody has won.”
A sticking point had been which of Afghanistan’s many languages would be given official status.
But agreement was reached on having Pashto and Dari as the two official languages.
US president George W Bush welcomed the news, saying: “A democratic Afghanistan will serve the interests and just aspirations of all of the Afghan people and help ensure that terror finds no further refuge in that proud land.”
