Karzai to ink Afghan constitution | BBC

Karzai to ink Afghan constitution

By Andrew North
BBC Kabul Correspondent


The constitution envisages
a strong presidency

The President of Afghanistan's transitional government, Hamid Karzai, is due to sign the country's new constitution at a ceremony in Kabul.

The document was agreed earlier this month at a grand assembly, or loya jirga, of regional representatives.

It is intended to pave the way for elections later this year.

However, doubts remain about the chances of holding those polls because of continuing insecurity in large parts of Afghanistan.

It is Afghanistan's first constitution since the collapse of the Taleban regime just over two years ago, but the eighth in its history.

The first was introduced by a king, the sixth by a Communist.

More at the BBC