The Myanmar State Constitution Drafting Commission announced on Tuesday the completion of the draft of a new state constitution, the State Radio and Television reported in a night broadcast.

Chief Justice U Aung Toe, who is Chairman of the commission, made the announcement at a meeting of the commission at the new capital of Nay Pyi Taw, urging the people to actively take part in the forthcoming national referendum on the draft constitution.

According to Feb. 9 government announcement, a national referendum will be held in May this year to seek endorsement of the draft constitution and a multi-party democracy general election to transform the military administration into democratic administration to follow in 2010 in accordance with the government's seven-step roadmap to democracy.

The new constitution has been drafted by the government-formed 54-member state constitution drafting commission since Dec. 3 last year, based on the detailed basic principles laid down in the 14- year-long national convention which started in 1993 and ended in September last year.

The national convention was presented by over 1,000 delegates coming from eight categories of delegate groups including national races and turned-in former anti-government ethnic armed groups.

According to the government's roadmap announced in August 2003, the new constitution draft is to be endorsed through a national referendum, then a general election will follow to produce parliament representatives and form a new democratic government.