Qatari voters approved their first real constitution Tuesday - a leap toward democratic rule in a country where the emir has held absolute power since independence from Britain in 1971. The constitution was approved in a referendum by 96.6 percent of the voters - 68,987 to 2,145, with 274 invalid votes, Qatar's Interior Minister, Prince Hamad bin Nasser Al Thani, announced at a news conference four hours after the polls had closed.

Crowds of Qatari men celebrated in the streets, honking cars draped in the Qatari flag and photos of the emir and the crown prince.

The draft will become Qatar's first real constitution, replacing a 1972 "Provisional Political Order" that outlined only limited government structures and did not lay out voting or other rights.

The constitution envisages a 45-member parliament, of which 30 will be elected in polls where women may stand and vote. The remaining 15 - as well as the Cabinet - will be appointed by the emir.

However, legislators will have the right to question Cabinet ministers, enact legislation and vote on the national budget.
Government officials said before the vote that parliamentary elections would be held in 2004.

At an elementary school on the outskirts of Doha, the capital of the tiny state, Ali al-Khater, a businessman, said he had read the draft constitution several times and had voted "yes."

"Every person hopes for a better future and this constitution is going to help us realize this future," al-Khater said.
One last-minute voter, Umm el-Jassim, said she had been busy all day but "wouldn't have missed it for anything."

The emir, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Crown Prince Jassem bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani voted at a polling station erected in the emir's palace.

Qataris first voted in 1999 municipal elections. The advisory Central Municipal Council was re-elected earlier this month.
At Qatar University's polling stations, turnout on the female campus was reportedly twice that on the male campus.

PHOTO CAPTION

HH the Emir of Qatar, SH Hamad Ben Khalifa al-Thani casts his ballot in a referendum on a permanent constitution for the country in Doha Tuesday April 29, 2003. The referendum is a leap forward toward democratic rule in a country where the emir has held absolute power since independence from Britain in 1971. (AP Photo)