Sudan forms constitution committee News
Sudan forms constitution committee

[JURIST] In an effort to implement a peace deal [highlights] between Khartoum and southern rebels that formally ended a 21-year civil war, Sudan [JURIST news archive] has formed a committee to draft an interim constitution. The constitution would clear the way for a unified Sudanese government and mark the beginning of the six-year interim period called for in the accord signed in Nairobi in January [JURIST report]. Important issues that must be addressed are wealth distribution, state and religion, ethnic diversity, and self-determination for the south. The sixty-member National Constitutional Review Committee will now begin the compromise process and members of both the Sudanese government [official website] in Khartoum and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement [official website] expect the interim constitution to be in place in July 2005. AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.