MPs arrive for opening of Afghanistan's parliament
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-12-19 14:14

Afghanistan's new legislators began arriving for the opening of the war-ravaged country's first parliament in more than 30 years, with US Vice President Dick Cheney due to attend the ceremony.

The parliament building was under heavy security amid concern that remnants of the Taliban regime toppled in a US-led invasion four years ago could try to disrupt the event.

The ceremony was due to begin at about 9:30 am (0500 GMT) with prayers and the singing of the national anthem, according to an official programme released Monday.

Well-respected former king Zahir Shah, who was toppled in a coup in 1973, will address the meeting before the 351 new parliamentarians are sworn in by President Hamid Karzai, who will deliver the main speech.

Other foreign guests expected at the ceremony are the UN official in charge of peackeeping operations, Jean Marie Guehenno, a delegation from the parliament in neighbouring Pakistan and Kabul-based diplomats.

Karzai has declared Monday a national holiday for the opening of the parliament, which was elected in September in the first general legislative vote since 1969.

A national parliament last sat in Afghanistan in 1973, before a coup ended centuries of rule by the monarchy.