Afghan council close to constitution agreement

President Hamid Karzai said today that delegates at a marathon constitutional council have overcome the chaos of an ugly walkout and are close to agreeing on his demand for a strong central government.

But rebel delegates were holding out against a clause that allows dual citizenship for top officials – an apparent shot at liberal ministers who have returned from exile in the United States to take up key Cabinet posts, but have been unwilling to give up coveted American and European passports.