BEIJING, March. 17 -- Iraq's parliament has met for the first time, some six weeks after it was elected. But the assembly failed to reach a deal on the forming of a new government. And insurgents marked the day with attacks.

    A moment 30 years in the waiting. The freely-elected 275 member National Assembly convened in the heavily guarded Green Zone with US helicopter gunships keeping watch.

    Gazi Al-Yawar, Interim Iraqi President, said, "I would like on this day to congratulate you as we take important steps towards the democratic process. This assembly is the result of the first democratic elections held here in Iraq."

    According to Iraq's interim constitution, the assembly must agree on a president and two vice presidents by a two-thirds majority. These officials will then appoint a prime minister. But parliament negotiations have stalled over Kurdish demands to expand their northern autonomous zone to include the oil city of Kirkuk. The Kurds also want guarantees Iraq will remain secular.

    The current President and Prime Minister Iyad Allawi will remain caretaker leaders until a coalition government can be formed.

    The delay in forming a government has angered many Iraqis. Some say the deadlock is playing into the hands of insurgents. Though several streets were closed, insurgents fired mortar bombs into the Green Zone compound. Explosions also rocked elsewhere in Baghdad, with conflicting reports about casualties. Enditem

(Source:CCTV.com)