Iraq's first freely elected parliament in half a century began its opening session today after a series of explosions targeted the gathering.
The parliament's 275 members, elected during January 30th elections, convened in an auditorium amid tight security in the heavily guarded Green Zone with US helicopter gunships hovering overhead.
Members of the Iraqi Transitional National Assembly are seen before the historic opening session today in the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq. Several explosions were detonated and air raid sirens sounded near the site where national assembly gathered for the first time.
The meeting began with a reading of verses from the Koran.
Speeches from members of the interim government and political party leaders were to be followed with a swearing-in ceremony for parliament members.
Today marks the anniversary of the 1988 Saddam-ordered chemical attack on the northern Kurdish town of Halabja, which killed 5,000 people.
To prevent suicide car bomb attacks against Iraq's new politicians, authorities stepped up security around the heavily fortified Green Zone. Two bridges leading to the zone were shut down, and roadblocks were erected on other streets leading to the area.