Delegates to Afghanistan's historic convention were yesterday due to start voting on disputed articles in the controversial draft constitution after they failed to reach agreement over the divisive issues of presidential power and languages.
A meeting of 96 delegates, three from each province, on Wednesday failed to agree over articles on official languages, presidential powers and a call by an anti-Taliban Northern Alliance faction, which wants a parliamentary form, for the establishment of a council to oversee the implementation of the constitution.
Loya Jirga chairman Sebghatullah Mujadidi adjourned the session and said all 502 delegates would yesterday start voting on the disputed articles in the amended draft regardless of the impasse after more than two weeks of wrangling.
President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday again ruled out any compromise on the new constitution which enshrines his favoured presidential system of government.
Some 100 delegates had threatened a boycott after claiming the amended draft constitution had been tampered with by ministers.
Karzai said there were just "four or five people trying to sabotage" the meeting and said there would be no compromise with those opposed to the presidential system set out in the draft constitution which will pave the way for the country's first democratic elections next year.
"There won't be any deals on Afghanistan's system of government, neither with jihadi leaders nor with anyone else," said Karzai, referring to some powerful former anti-Soviet "mujahidin" fighters who favor a parliamentary system.
"There will not be any deal on Afghanistan's future, stability or security," he said.
"We want this constitution in a way to prevent deals on Afghanistan, the system that I have proposed is to prevent deals."
Some delegates have claimed the amended draft did not reflect the findings of a delegates' committee that finished work on the draft at the weekend and was supposed to have reconciled the views of supporters of the presidential system and those who want a strong parliament.
Karzai, however, still looks poised to secure backing for a constitution supporting his preferred presidential form of government, with few changes.
Even some of those who would like a parliamentary system have backed Karzai's view that a strong presidential system is needed after decades of war because Afghanistan lacks mature political parties necessary for a successful parliamentary democracy.
Most of the draft's 160 articles have been accepted without opposition but a handful dealing with the power of the president and official languages have provoked heated exchanges.
Some delegates from Northern Alliance factions want three vice president posts instead of one to dilute presidential powers.
Ethnic Uzbeks also want a vice presidential post to give them better representation.
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