Afghanistan's new constitution was ratified unanimously at a historic assembly in Kabul Sunday, assembly Chairman Sibghatullah Mujadadi announced.  

"Our work has concluded successfully," said the aged leader. "Now it is for us and for the government to cordially act on the constitution."

"May God guide us to get united to reconstruct our country and serve our people, including widows and orphans," he added, referring to millions of Afghans who had lost their beloved ones in over 23 years of war.

"I beg your pardon, because I am too old to serve the nation," said Mujadadi, a former president and a prominent jihadi leader who led Afghanistan's resistance against the Soviet occupation in 1980s, with tears in his eyes.

The three-week constitutional assembly, or Loya Jirga, had been marred by disputes over some crucial issues in the draft constitution prepared by the transitional government led by President Hamid Karzai.

However, agreement was reached among the 502 delegates earlier in the day to ratify the post-Taliban document with mediation of the Unite Nations and American officials.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2004)