MIDRAND, South Africa (AFP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki urged members of the new Pan-African Parliament to be the "fearless champions" of people who are hungry for change and hope to see a "humane Africa" finally born.

"You carry in your hands the hopes of the people," Mbeki said at the opening of the new 265-seat assembly representing Africans from Algiers to Antananarivo.

"These masses expect that you will be their fearless champions, who will refuse to be distracted by petty things, inspired to serve the great causes that must lead us to the Renaissance of Africa," Mbeki said.

Established in March by the African Union, the Pan-African Parliament is embarking on a first formative five-year stage during which its role will be limited to that of a consultative and advisory body.

It has no powers to adopt laws and has no budget for this year although the plan is for the 265-seat assembly to evolve into a law-making body around 2009 and start looking at harmonisation of legislation.

Each of the 53 countries are to be represented in the new parliament by five members from their national legislatures, one of whom must be a woman. The delegations must also include opposition members.

Thus far, 46 countries have ratified the protocols of the parliament and their delegations are beginning work in the first formal session scheduled to end on October 7 at Gallagher Estate, a sprawling conference center located in Midrand, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Johannesburg.

In his address, Mbeki told the members of the new continental body that "the eyes of the peoples of Africa" were on them and urged them to turn the Pan-African Parliament into a meaningful institution.

"These masses are interested to know what this brand new institution will mean to them. They want to know whether you will meet their dreams and their hopes to give birth to the humane Africa that has eluded us all for so long," he said.

The African people need "no lectures" and "no teachers" to inform them of their plight, Mbeki said.

"They want you, their elected representatives, to help them to change their material conditions so that they escape from the jaws of poverty and their countries and continents from the clutches of underdevelopment," he said.

In her address, parliament president Gertrude Mongella sought to dispel widespread skepticism about the new institution's role when she appealed for support in the form of "serious nurturing" and resources.

"PAP has come at the right time when the world is engaged in the globalisation process calling for global integration," said the Tanzanian Mongella, who was elected in March to preside over the new African debate.

"What is needed is serious nurturing and strengthening of the institution by ensuring that it has the necessary resources for proper functioning," she said.

Dancers, drummers, a children's choir dressed in bright sun-orange shirts, visiting Indian President Abdul Kalam and South African diva Miriam Makeba were all on hand to welcome the new parliament that will be permanently based in South Africa.

There were also some 150 Zimbabwe opposition activists gathered outside the opening ceremony's venue and who wasted no time in demanding that members of parliament condemn the regime of President Robert Mugabe.

"We are here to say to the leaders of the PAP 'What can you do for us? Our people are dying'," said protester Orwell Ngoma.