Thursday, June 3, 1999 Published at 18:52 GMT 19:52 UK

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.

Thousands of political supporters, well-wishers and onlookers packed
the new building housing the Senate and the House of Representatives.

"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.