KABUL, 17 December 2003 — Three rockets hit Kabul early yesterday on the third day of a convention to adopt a new constitution, as delegates warned Afghanistan risked being plunged into civil war again unless it backs a strong president. The rockets landed in populated areas but no-one was injured, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.
“Forensic teams will be making reports in due course,” an ISAF statement said.
The rockets landed near Kabul airport, only several kilometers from the site of the loya jirga (grand assembly) in a huge white tent in Kabul’s tightly guarded polytechnic institute. One rocket came within 15 meters of a Kuwaiti women’s association center for women and street children.
A German ISAF patrol also exchanged fire with a group of “suspicious” Afghans overnight on the outskirts of Kabul, a German Defense Ministry spokesman said in Berlin.
The group appeared to be preparing to fire a rocket, he said.
A German soldier was hit by gunfire but was saved by his protective equipment. The Afghans fled once the shooting broke out.
Taleban militants claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks and warned of further attacks to disrupt the loya jirga, although ISAF spokesman British Lt. Cmdr. Frank Cockburn said it was too early to say who was responsible.
“We warn of more attacks on Kabul city today and tonight,” a Taleban spokesman who identified himself as Abdul Samad told AFP by satellite phone. Delegates yesterday agreed to split into 10 groups to debate the constitution, with the heads of each group to present their findings.
Debate on the new constitution later got under way in 10 smaller tents amid sharp differences over the most suitable system of future government for Afghanistan.
Delegates interviewed by AFP were divided between supporters of the current draft and those who would rather see a parliamentary system to counterbalance the president.
“We want a strong presidential government which suits the present situation of Afghanistan,” Haji Ghulam Khan, a delegate from eastern Laghman province, told AFP.
“A strong parliamentary system can only be successful if the country has strong political parties which we lack,” he said.
“Those who claim they are political parties in Afghanistan are all armed militia factions who lack political skills and would lead the country toward crisis again.”
Haji Abdul Satar from northeast Kunar said a strong presidential system was “the only way to govern this country and put things on the right path.”
The 502 delegates to the loya jirga which opened Sunday are to debate and ratify the constitution, paving the way for the country’s first democratic elections, scheduled for June 2004.
