Afghan constitutional convention opens

Some 500 delegates from village mullahs to Western-educated exiles were gathered at a huge tent in the capital, Kabul, to hammer out a new constitution in a traditional loya jirga, or grand council. Among the issues they were expected to spar over were the role of Afghan women, Islam's place in politics and the sharing of power in a nation accustomed to fighting over it.

"The people are relying on you and you should not forget them," the 88-year-old former monarch, Mohammad Zaher Shah, told the assembly. "I hope you will try your best to maintain peace, stability and the unity of the Afghan people."

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The loya jirga is a key step in the two-year drive to stabilise the country under an empowered central government, and is supposed to lead to national elections slated for June.

The king spoke after a reading from the Quran, Islam's holy book, by a blind cleric and a rendition of a traditional Afghan folk song by a group of young children, wearing Nike shirts under richly embroidered traditional vests, that brought several delegates to tears.

"This constitution will determine the political, social, and economic future of Afghanistan," President Hamid Karzai told the gathering. "For the first time in the history of Afghanistan, the people of Afghanistan have the opportunity to appoint the representatives of their choice. ... This constitution will guarantee the rights of all Afghan people ... and put an end to anarchy."

Security was extremely tight after warnings from the US military that Taliban militants might try to attack the convention.