Dili-East Timor's newly elected Constituent Assembly today unanimously adopted a set of Rules and Procedures for the 88-member body following a two-week debate.

The Rules and Procedures deal with the nature and function of the Assembly, internal competence, methodology for drafting the Constitution, languages used, immunities, rights and privileges of the Assembly members, organization of the assembly, and competence of the chair, among others.

The draft Rules and Procedures was presented by the Technical Committee, represented by Assembly member Lucia Lobato of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) on 26 September.

The Constituent Assembly, tasked with drafting a Constitution for an independent East Timor, was elected on 30 August and inaugurated by Transitional Administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello on 15 September.