KABUL, Dec 14: Afghans launched a crucial meeting on Sunday to approve a constitution to take the country to its first free elections and President Hamid Kazai defended his bid for a strong presidency, calling it vital after years of war.

Amid tight security after Taliban threats, the Loya Jirga finally got under way in a giant tent at Kabul Polytechnic campus after successive delays earlier in the week.

The gathering is expected to last from 10 days to several weeks, with vigorous debate expected on many of the 160 articles of a published draft constitution, including Islam’s role and women’s rights. But the central theme is the sweeping power sought by Karzai, which critics and rivals want diluted by a stronger parliament.

Opening the assembly, honorary “father of the nation”, ex-king Mohammad Zahir Shah, appealed: “The people have trust in you... Do not forget them. Act for the benefit of Afghanistan.”

The meeting and Afghanistan’s progress towards elections while US-led forces hunt for remnants of the Taliban regime mirror Washington’s efforts to rebuild Iraq, where the US military announced the capture of former ruler Saddam Hussein on Sunday.

But there were early signs of problems with delegates from the Northern Alliance, the backbone of Karzai’s government that has also emerged as his main rival, saying its supporters would recommend that the current assembly stay together and act as a parliament to supervise presidential activity.

The bloc claimed the support of 241 delegates and demanded that 50 delegates named by Karzai be denied voting rights.

An address by Karzai took on the tone of a campaign speech, listing his administration’s successes, from a start of reconstruction work to introduction of a new currency.

He said a strong presidency was vital in a war-ravaged country lacking political parties with nationwide support.

“Because we don’t have such organisations, small political groups come to these sort of national assemblies to try and create governments by force,” he said.

“Experience shows that these organisations just want power and don’t think of the national interest,” he said. “This is very dangerous for Afghanistan... Right now, Afghanistan needs one source of power in government.”

Karzai, who came to power after a US-led force drove out the Taliban in late 2001 and is widely seen as the only leader able to keep Afghanistan together, has said he will only stand in elections next year if delegates agree to a strong presidency.

On Saturday, he expressed confidence about an agreement but predicted a tough debate.

However, analysts say regional warlords have been seeking pledges on greater autonomy, individual positions, or a stronger role for Islamic law in return for their backing, which could sow the seeds for future difficulties.—Reuters