FOXNews.com - Top Stories - Historic Afghan Constitutional Loya Jirga Begins
KABUL, Afghanistan A landmark constitutional convention began in Afghanistan (search) on Sunday with solemn prayers, the songs of children and a stirring speech by the nation's former king, who echoed the aspirations of his war-weary countrymen with a call for unity and peace.
Some 500 delegates from village mullahs to Western-educated exiles were gathered at a huge tent in Afghanistan's battle-scarred capital, Kabul, to hammer out a new constitution in a traditional loya jirga (search), or grand council. Among the issues they were expected to spar over were the role of Afghan women, Islam's place in politics and the sharing of power in a nation accustomed to fighting over it.
"The people are relying on you and you should not forget them," the 88-year-old former monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah (search), told the assembly. "I hope you will try your best toward maintaining peace, stability and the unity of the Afghan people."
The loya jirga is a key step in the two-year drive to stabilize the country under an empowered central government, and is supposed to lead to landmark national elections slated for June.
KABUL, Afghanistan A landmark constitutional convention began in Afghanistan (search) on Sunday with solemn prayers, the songs of children and a stirring speech by the nation's former king, who echoed the aspirations of his war-weary countrymen with a call for unity and peace.
Some 500 delegates from village mullahs to Western-educated exiles were gathered at a huge tent in Afghanistan's battle-scarred capital, Kabul, to hammer out a new constitution in a traditional loya jirga (search), or grand council. Among the issues they were expected to spar over were the role of Afghan women, Islam's place in politics and the sharing of power in a nation accustomed to fighting over it.
"The people are relying on you and you should not forget them," the 88-year-old former monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah (search), told the assembly. "I hope you will try your best toward maintaining peace, stability and the unity of the Afghan people."
The loya jirga is a key step in the two-year drive to stabilize the country under an empowered central government, and is supposed to lead to landmark national elections slated for June.
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