Delegates gather for second day to decide constitution

Описание: (15 Dec 2003)
1. Wide shot of Loya Jirga
2. Women in audience
3. Pan from right to left of front row delegates (Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum in blue green striped jacket)
4. Man addressing jirga
5. Women listening
6. Little girl singing
7. Wide shot of row of delegates listening
8. Man addressing loya jirga
9. Delegates listening
10. Wide shot of loya jirga
11. Man addressing loya jirga
12. Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah
13. Wide shot of loyal jirga

STORYLINE:

The loya jirga -- Afghanistan's grand council -- began its second day of talks on Monday aimed at finalizing the country's first post-Taliban constitution.

Hundreds of delegates, from village mullahs to Western-educated exiles, gathered in a huge tent in the capital Kabul.

Hundreds of soldiers guarded the event after warnings from the US military that militants might try to attack.

The council is deciding vital issues like the makeup of Islamic Afghanistan and the role of the country's women.

President Hamid Karzai pressed on Sunday for a strong presidential system that would stand up to the resurgent Taliban and make the country safe for aid workers and foreign investors.

The 160-article draft constitution foresees no post of prime minister in a highly centralized government and would allow the president to appoint top officials, even in the provinces, where warlords continue to hold power.

Karzai said this week he would not run in the scheduled June elections if a strong prime minister's post is created.

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