Karzai to address Afghan loya jirga

Proceedings in the loya jirga were paralyzed amid arguments over the makeup of a new government

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghanistan's grand council, or loya jirga, has invited president-elect Hamid Karzai to address delegates after the assembly failed in almost a week of debate to agree on the makeup of a new government or parliament.

Karzai, whose election as president marks the one task the assembly has accomplished, is expected to address the nearly 1,600 delegates on Monday.

Proceedings were paralyzed amid argument and accusations over what kind of legislature should represent the war torn nation.(Full story)

The delegates, tasked with establishing a legislature to work with Karzai, are trying to decide between an assembly based on geography and one based on population.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Gary Tuchman reports on the election of Afghanistan interim leader Hamid Karzai to a two-year term as president (June 13) Play video   AUDIO CNN's Gary Tuchman reports how a group of armed men tried to disrupt the second day of Afghanistan's historic loya jirga 1.83MB / 2:54 min WAV sound   LOYA JIRGA Focus: A very Afghan gathering  Profile: Key players

Loya jirga chairman Ismael Qasimyar offered delegates a choice of either two representatives for each of the 32 provinces, the initial idea endorsed by the loya jirga commission, or one representative for every 10 of the nearly 1,600 delegates.

Minority ethnic groups from northern Afghanistan support the one representative theory. But the ethnic Pashtuns, who claim to compose 65 per cent of the country's population, said choosing one assembly delegate for every 10 loya jirga delegates would render them voicelss in the legislative branch of a new government.

Pashtuns have advocated the idea of one representative for each of the 381 districts in Afghanistan, saying it is the only fair way to build an assembly.

"They want some kind of formula," Gulbadan Habibi, a delegate representing Afghans from the East Coast of the United States told The Associated Press.

"One says, 'OK, if my district's population is 2,000 people and this other one is 500, it's not fair if we have the same representatives'."

Chaotic scenes

Without an independent census having been conducted in Afghanistan in decades, and with confusion among delegates over the instructions, Sunday's session was adjourned amid hours of chaotic scenes.

"This is a controversial issue," Qasimyar told the delegates.

"When an issue of difference of opinion is made my heart shivers."

Qasimyar has called on Karzai to attend Monday's session to help break the logjam.

Karzai has been engaged in intense behind-the-scenes bargaining with leaders of various ethnic groups to forge a multi-ethnic cabinet acceptable to all parties.(Key players)

Parliament, once chosen, is expected to approve the new cabinet, which will run the country for 18 months before general elections are held.

The assembly, entering an unscheduled extra day Monday, is now expected to end on Tuesday, although The Associated Press reports that Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah has suggested it might be extended two more days.

Some delegates have complained the process is being unduly influenced by warlords who have created an atmosphere of intimidation.

Role of Islam

Among the controversial topics some were afraid to speak out on was the role of Islam in a new government.

On Friday, three Afghan delegates, all former fighters against the Soviets, urged the loya jirga to include the name of Islam in the next government -- making it the transitional Islamic Afghan government. Delegates rose to their feet in unison to applaud.

Despite the show of unanimity, some dissenters said Islam had been misapplied in the past -- a reference to the Taliban's austere brand of religion.

Kandahar governor Gul Agha drew jeers when he said: "The Islamic name should be omitted from the government because in the past it has been misused."

His opinion was shared by other delegates who weren't given the microphone -- and who complained that ordinary delegates were being sidelined by religious and political leaders.

Many believe the makeup of the legislature and the cabinet will demonstrate how much power Karzai's new mandate has given him. Many of his fellow Pashtuns felt Karzai's authority in the interim administration was limited because ethnic Tajiks held key posts of defense, interior and foreign affairs.