KABUL, Dec 4: Afghanistan is preparing a “glorious” ceremony for the opening this month of its first post-conflict parliament, an official said on Sunday.

President Hamid Karzai will be joined at the ceremony by dignitaries from various foreign countries, defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Zahir Azimi said.

He did not give a date for the first sitting but another official said it would be held on Dec 19.

“Ordered by ... President Hamid Karzai a commission has been established to prepare for a glorious opening ceremony for the national assembly,” he told reporters without provide details.

The parliament will be Afghanistan’s first after more than three decades of war, conflict and internal strife.

The 249-member lower house, dominated by former anti-Taliban warlords and drug barons, was elected on Sept 18 in a key step in a transition to democracy.

Two-thirds of the upper house seats have been filled and Karzai is due to announce his choices for the remaining seats in coming days.—AFP