KABUL, Dec 28: President Hamid Karzai looks set to emerge the winner after two weeks of wrangling over Afghanistan’s new constitution as delegates prepared to vote on Monday on a draft which endorses his preferred presidential form of government.

Loya jirga (“grand assembly”) chairman Sibghatullah Mujadadi on Sunday opened the plenary session of the 502 loya jirga delegates gathered in a huge white tent to ratify the draft.

But the meeting was adjourned after several delegates protested against discussions proceeding without them having copies of the amended draft before them.

The loya jirga was adjourned to print extra copies and is expected to restart on Monday morning.

The session was called after a committee of delegates on Saturday finished its work to reconcile the conflicting views of Karzai and powerful factional leaders on whether Afghanistan should have a presidential or parliamentary system.

Committee members said they had finally agreed to a presidential system.

“The committee came to an agreement almost on all articles,” committee member Razia Naimi told reporters on Saturday.

“There are conflicting views on a couple of articles which will be decided in the general session,” she said.

Committee members also asked that the appointment of ministers, the chief justice and central bank governor be approved by the legislature, she said.

A copy of the amended draft seen by AFP changes article 64 to say the president should determine fundamental state policies with the approval of the lower house, rather than make those decisions alone.

The only other major amendment to articles dealing with the president added that presidential candidates should not have a foreign spouse.

Other changes to the draft included the specific mention of women having equal rights with men in article 22.

Ratification of the new constitution will pave the way for the country’s first democratic elections, scheduled for June 2004.—AFP