by Kamal Taha
BAGHDAD, Aug 19 (AFP) - Iraq's interim parliament was hailed Thursday by the prime minister, members and observers as a positive step on the country's thorny road to democracy, ahead of the legislature's first session on September 1.
Made up of 81 elected members and 19 former members of the defunct Governing Council, the 100-member assembly is to advise the interim government as it paves the way for general elections scheduled for January 2005.
A single list of 81 candidates was voted through Wednesday by delegates at a key national conference after a rival shortlist was declared invalid.
Flushed with success, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and members of the new parliament hailed it as a "democratic victory", despite howls of protest from some delegates that it as a weak rubber-stamp for the government.
Speaking at a news conference late Thursday, Allawi said the national conference had laid the foundation of Iraqi independence, met "complete success" and represents the popular "will of people".
"It has proven that Iraq is capable of carrying its responsibilities of laying foudation of democracy and independence," he said.
Earlier Thursday, conference organiser Fuad Maasum stressed the 81 elected members represent the full spectrum of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Christians, Shiite and Sunni Muslims -- religious and secular.
"In order to find common ground, members of the national assembly will continue dialogue with all Iraqis who did not take part in the conference, provided each party respects its right to differing opinions," he added.
"What happened yesterday was a victory for the whole political process in Iraq... as no one was excluded or marginalised," said Yonnadam Kanna, the former Governing Council's sole Christian member.
"It was also a victory for Iraqi women as Iraqi women now have 25 representatives in the parliament," he added.
Of the 81 seats decided by the vote, 21 were to go to party members, 21 to provincial leaders, 11 to minorities, 10 to tribal figures, 10 to civil society organisations and eight to independents.
On Wednesday, presiding judge Ahmed al-Arargji ordered two competing lists of candidates to be modified because neither included the correct number of women.
Women had earlier voiced concern they would not get the full 25 seats allocated to them due to the influence of Islamist parties.
"It's true that there were some problems. Yet it was something ordinary and a sort of democracy. Those people protested about having their names omitted or that was how they thought," said Maasum.
Despite recognising that there was little choice in the final selection of candidates, observer and member of the conference's preparatory committee Hussein Sinjari welcomed the diverse make-up of the parliament.
"All colours were there. It is like a Kurdish carpet. ... Although it would have been more credible and democratic to have individuals voting for individuals, given the situation it could have been dangerous.
"We could have ended up with only veiled women and turbaned men," he said.
Nevertheless, the rumbling conflict in Najaf, which cast a shadow over the four-day national conference is likely to prove the greatest test for the new national council, when it meets for the first time in two weeks time.
"The (first) session will be dedicated to enshrining its rules, drawing up a schedule for the sessions and the issues it is to discuss," said Maasum.
"How things develop in Najaf will be decisive in explaining how fast or slow we will have a healthy democratic system," said Sinjari, as the government pressed radical Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr, who has refused to join the political process, to disband his militia or be crushed.