Related: Iraqi parliament starts opening session under tight security measures

    

Iraqi lawmakers take their oath during the opening session of the new parliament in Baghdad March 16, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters)

BAGHDAD, March 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The Iraqi parliament on Thursday ended its first session since the Dec. 15 general elections.

    The opening session lasted just 40 minutes and was adjourned after all 275 members of the national assembly were collectively sworn in.

    The session started with verses of Kuran, then the outgoing speaker Hachim al-Hassani delivered a speech, saying "we have to be frank to say that there were some security, political and economic failures which put huge burdens on the new parliament and government."

    He also underlined the necessity of forming a national unity government which represent all the Iraqi mosaic and the necessity in looking into the disputes over several articles in the permanent constitution.

    "I announce officially the dissolving of the national assembly and I give the flag to the oldest parliament member who is Dr.Adnan al-Pachachi," al-Hassani said.

    Pachachi, 83, a former foreign minister who presided over the new assembly as the eldest member, took the floor and announced that the session would adjourn until political parties could agree on who was to be elected speaker.

    "It was agreed that the session to be end to give time for more negotiations by the political leaders," he said.

    Pachachi also said that he is optimistic that the "new government will be formed at the end of this month," confirming the need to overcome the failures of the former stage.

    The new parliament ended its session after 40 minutes following the 275 members were collectively sworn in.

    Thursday's session is widely seen as a ceremonial rather than a practical meeting before its opening as Iraqi politicians are yet to reach an agreement on forming a national unity government.

    Iraqi political parties have remained deadlocked in talks on forming a national unity government after the Dec. 15 parliamentary election. Enditem