Afghanistan parliament meets after 30 years

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Afghanistan parliament meets after 30 years

Transition to democracy is greeted as sign of regained honour, but with warlords taking seats, many are sceptical. Tom Coghlan reports in Kabul

Afghanistan's parliament met for the first time in more than 30 years yesterday, completing a transition to democratic government but leaving many Afghans harbouring grave doubts.

After three decades of invasion, bloodshed and civil conflict, President Hamid Karzai described the meeting as a "sign of us regaining our honour".

"We have the right to tell those who are after the destruction of this water and soil that this homeland will exist for ever," he declared, prompting tears from many delegates.

Mr Karzai urged national reconciliation and reiterated a call to Taliban rebels to abandon their insurgency, which has intensified in the past year despite his efforts to encourage defections.

The opening of parliament was the culmination of a United Nations-backed plan to bring democracy, the 2001 Bonn Agreement, drawn up after US-led forces overthrew

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