Explosions mark opening of new parliament in Iraq

Iraq’s first freely-elected parliament in half a century began its opening session today after a series of explosions targeted the gathering, marking a major milestone on the road to forming a new government in the insurgent-wracked country.

The parliament’s 275 members, elected during January 30 elections, convened in an auditorium amid tight security in the heavily guarded Green Zone with US helicopter gunships hovering overhead.