Dili – The Constituent Assembly today passed a further five articles of East Timor's draft Constitution relating to the functions of the Council of State and of the National Parliament. All the articles were passed by significant majorities.

Article 86 stipulates that the Council of State shall advise the President on the dissolution of Parliament, the dismissal of the Government and on whether to declare war or make peace. The Council will also advise the President on other issues when requested.

Article 87 defines the Parliament as "the representative assembly of all East Timorese citizens and the highest legislative organ of the Democratic Republic of East Timor."

Article 88 states that the Parliament will be comprised of a minimum of 52 and a maximum of 65 members. The members will be elected for a term of five years by universal, direct, equal, secret and personal suffrage.

The assembly also agreed to introduce a new section, Section 88a, which grants members parliamentary immunity. The removal of a member's immunity will be in accordance with the Parliament's internal regulations.

Article 89 states that it is incumbent on the Parliament to make laws concerning the country's domestic and foreign policy and stipulates areas in which it is "exclusively incumbent" on Parliament to legislate. These areas include, among others, the country's borders, territorial waters, national defense policy, tax policy and the budget system.

The Assembly has set itself the deadline of 25 January to pass the draft Constitution's 151 articles.