U.N. Welcomes Swearing In Of Somali Parliament

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 22 (AFP) - United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan congratulated on Sunday members of Somalia's new parliament, who took the oath at a ceremony in Nairobi, in neighboring Kenya.

More than 200 of the lawmakers were being sworn in at the UN's Nairobi office, a major step towards ending 13 years of anarchy in their Horn of Africa country.

Annan "welcomes the inauguration of the transitional federal parliament for Somalia," a statement from the UN leader's spokesman read.

The UN leader "congratulates all Somalis for this achievement, which has followed almost two years of arduous negotiations under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), led by Kenya."

Annan commended the Kenyan government and President Mwai Kibaki, as well as other IGAD countries and international supporters "for their dedication to peace in Somalia."

The event "is the beginning of long-awaited reconciliation," the statement read.

Annan hopes the new parliament "will meet its first challenge with the necessary resolve that is required for the election of a president for Somalia, and thereafter the realization of governance structures for the country."

Annan also expressed "the readiness of the United Nations to do its utmost to support the peace process in Somalia."