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The Iraqi legislature meets for the first time:
BAGHDAD—Iraq’s newly elected legislators celebrated their nation’s democracy in high spirits yesterday,* taking their oaths of office and vowing to uphold the laws of the land at the largely ceremonial opening of the National Assembly that was elected in January.
Neither a series of mortar blasts outside nor the ever-present drone of attack helicopters overhead could dampen the spirits of the politicians and diplomats who gathered for the ceremony inside the heavily fortified green zone.
“It is a great day, and it is a historic day,” said Saad Jawad Qindeel, an incoming member of parliament and a member of the Shi’ite alliance that holds a narrow majority in the chamber.
“This is the first freely elected national assembly convening in the history of Iraq. And this is the first national assembly that will elect a legitimate government that has come through the ballot boxes.”
People all over the world want freedom. And they will show great courage to get it.
