Afghan parliament meets for first time in decades

From Reuters UK today:
First Afghan parliament in decades sworn in:

By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL (Reuters) - “Warlords, former communists, women’s rights activists and technocrats were sworn in on Monday as members of the first Afghan parliament in more than 30 years amid hopes of national reconciliation after decades of bloodshed.

“‘I thank God that today I am participating in a ceremony that is a step towards rebuilding Afghanistan after decades of fighting,’ former King Zahir Shah, overthrown in 1973 by his cousin, Daud Khan, who dissolved the last parliament.

“‘The people of Afghanistan will succeed!’ the 91-year-old Zahir Shah told the assembly to applause.

“The inauguration was the culmination of a U.N.-backed plan to bring democracy drawn up after U.S.-led forces overthrew the Taliban in 2001 and security was tight after a spate of Taliban suicide attacks and threats to the assembly.…”