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Algerian new parliament holds inaugural session amid protest of Islamists

26 May 2012 19:34 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Algeria’s newly elected parliament held its first session on Saturday, with 462 members being inaugurated for a five-year term, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Some MPs of the Islamist Alliance of Green Algeria (AAV), however, contested election results and left the inaugural ceremony in protest.

The AAV, consisting of the Movement of Society of Peace (MSP), Ennahda (Renaissance) and El Islah (Reform), has obtained 49 seats in the new parliament. The alliance decided to boycott the first session of National Assembly "to protest against the manipulation of election results," according to a statement distributed to reporters on the spot.

Some MPs of the Political Front for the Protection of Democracy, a front composed of 14 parties which also contested election results, attended the inaugural session.

The new speaker of the parliament is set to be inaugurated on Saturday afternoon.

The new parliament is composed of 462 MPs, including 143 women, representing 27 political parties and 19 independent lists.