December 17, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 22, 1424

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KABUL, Dec 16: Three rockets hit Kabul early Tuesday on the third day of a convention to adopt a new constitution, as delegates warned Afghanistan risked being plunged into civil war again unless it backed a strong president.

The rockets landed near Kabul airport, only a few kilometres from the site of the Loya Jirga, but no-one was injured, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

Delegates on Tuesday agreed to split into 10 groups to debate the constitution, with the heads of each group to present their findings.

Debate on the new constitution was due to get under way later in 10 smaller tents amid sharp differences over the most suitable system of future government for Afghanistan.

Delegates interviewed by AFP were divided between supporters of the current draft and those who would rather see a parliamentary system to counterbalance the president.

“We want a strong presidential government which suits the present situation of Afghanistan,” Haji Ghulam Khan, a delegate from eastern Laghman province, said.

“A strong parliamentary system can only be successful if the country has strong political parties which we lack,” he said.

Haji Abdul Sattar from northeast Kunar said a strong presidential system was “the only way to govern this country and put things on the right path.”

The 502 delegates to the Loya Jirga are to debate and ratify the constitution, paving the way for the country’s first elections, scheduled for June 2004.

President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly said he will only stand in the presidential polls if the Loya Jirga approves the presidential system laid down in the draft document.

But some delegates said Afghanistan needed a strong parliamentary system with a prime minister to meet the criteria for democracy.—AFP