EXTRA: Karzai inaugurates new Afghan parliament

Wed, 26 Jan 2011

Kabul - Afghan President Hamid Karzai inaugurated a new parliament Wednesday, ending a drawn-out political showdown with lawmakers over the opening date that had plunged the country deeper into crisis.

In a ceremony in Kabul, Karzai swore in the parliament's 249 members and asked the new lawmakers to set aside their differences for the sake of the country.

"It is natural that there are competitions during the elections. It is natural that there are problems, but when the competition ends the national unity starts," Karzai said.

"Given the dangers that our country is facing, and given the opportunity that we have for a prosperous future, I hope that we all join hands and lead our country towards a situation that all Afghans hope for," he said.

Karzai had postponed the opening of the session until February 22, but he eventually agreed to preside over an opening Wednesday after lawmakers, allegedly backed by Western countries, threatened to go ahead without him.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/364293,inaugurates-new-afghan-parliament.html.