Afghan convention hits difficulties as draft charter causes discord

AFGHANISTAN’S constitutional convention began voting yesterday, but up to a quarter of the 502 delegates refused to cast ballots for a draft charter backed by the United States after a long, acrimonious meeting.

Men and women from across the country lined up to vote inside an immense tent on a Kabul college campus on proposed amendments to the 160-article draft document, including one giving women more seats in parliament.

The draft outlines a strong presidential system with a limited role for parliament. It would also makes Islam the official religion but without Islamic sharia law.