President Hamid Karzai signed Afghanistan's new constitution into law today, putting into force a charter meant to reunite his war-shattered nation and help defeat Taliban rebels.
At a ceremony in Kabul's Foreign Ministry, Mr Karzai signed a decree declaring the 162 article document ratified earlier this month as the country's supreme law.
The constitution outlines a tolerant, democratic Islamic state under a strong presidency - as sought by Mr Karzai - a two-chamber parliament and an independent judiciary.
Ratified after a sometimes bruising debate at a 500 member loya jirga, or grand council of representatives from across the country, the text also declares men and women equal before the law - a victory for human rights advocates.
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