Q+A - What is Afghanistan's loya jirga; what does it do?
REUTERS - After his inauguration on Thursday, re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced he would organise a "loya jirga" -- a large assembly of Afghan leaders.
Loya jirgas have traditionally been a forum to discuss and reach a consensus on important political issues. Following are some key facts about loya jirgas, their significance in Afghan politics and what Karzai's proposed jirga could bring about.
* WHAT DOES A LOYA JIRGA DO? Loya jirga is a Pashto phrase meaning "large council".
It traditionally involves ethnic Pashtun tribal elders -- Afghanistan's largest ethnic group. But other ethnic groups have recently taken part to give them fair representation in decisions since the Taliban, largely Pashtun, were overthrown in 2001.
Hundreds of tribal leaders, community elders and other officials gather in a large hall or marquee to reach a consensus on issues like the choosing of a ruler, amendments to laws or solutions to a crisis.
Loya jirgas can take precedence over all state institutions, including the presidency, according to the constitution.
The notion of the loya jirga as the best means to solve problems dates from 977, when a jirga in southeastern Ghazni province chose the freed Tatar slave Naziruddin to head the Ghaznavid Empire, one of the first Afghan states.
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