Kabul (Afghanistan), Apr. 17 : Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has said that the controversial law permitting men to rape their wives will be changed.

In an interview with CNN, Karzai said he was unaware of the provision in the legislation, which he signed into law last month.

"Now I have instructed, in consultation with clergy of the country, that the law be revised and any article that is not in keeping with the Afghan constitution and Islamic Sharia must be removed from this law," Karzai said.

The law has drawn international criticism, and Karzai''s comments came a day after several hundred protesters demonstrated against it. Critics say the law bars women from opting out of sex, effectively legalizing marital rape.

The measure applies to the 20 percent of Afghans who are Shiite Muslims. It was part of a massive piece of legislation aimed at bolstering the nation''s Shiite minority. (ANI)