Qatar: a referendum for a permanent constitution on April 29th

Qatar announced yesterday the organization of a referendum on April 29th over the first permanent constitution for this Gulf state, stressing thereby its commitment to pursue political reforms.

In a decree, the Amir of Qatar, Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani asked the Qatari men and women "to express their views in the draft constitution." He also announced the formation of a committee at the ministry of the interior called " the general committee for referendum" with the task of supervising the referendum and announcing its results, according to the official Qatari news agency. The agency did not publish any thing about the content of this constitution which will be debated for the referendum.

Well-informed sources said that it is presumed to organize legislative elections that will be the first in the country in Qatar in 2004. The draft constitution stated, as declared last Summer, to found a consultative Shoura council that two thirds of its members will be elected by direct voting.

According to the chairman of the formation committee Abdullah Bin Saleh al-Khaleifi, one third of the members will be appointed by the prince himself.