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Thursday, June 3, 1999 Published at 18:52 GMT 19:52 UK
World: Africa
New Nigerian parliament opens
The military have kept their promise to hand over power to civilians
Nigeria's first parliament in more than 15 years has opened in Abuja.
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"It's a turning point," said one onlooker. "Everyone is in love with democracy."
Evans Enwerem, a former governor of Imo state, was elected as Senate president - the speaker of the house and the third most senior position in the Nigerian political system.
His election brought to an end days of political wrangling.
Correspondents say the election is being seen as a victory for President Olusegun Obasanjo's political camp over his vice-president's camp.
The president is to address the two chambers in a first joint session on Friday.
Nigeria's last effective national assembly was closed down in 1983, when soldiers overthrew the elected President, Shehu Shagari, amid accusations of theft and election cheating by corrupt civilian politicians.
In 1992, a national assembly was elected but it was dissolved after the annulment of 1993 presidential elections before it could pass any laws.
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Relevant Stories 31 May 99 | Africa Nigeria suspends military regime contracts 30 May 99 | Africa Obasanjo names key figures 29 May 99 | Africa Freetown fears for the future 29 May 99 | Africa Nigeria embraces civilian rule 08 Mar 99 | Africa Abubakar: 'Democracy here to stay' 02 Mar 99 | Africa Analysis: Democracy returns 17 Feb 99 | Africa Africa's ailing giant |
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