IRAN'S NEW MAJLIS BUILDING INAUGURATED TEHRAN, MARCH 13 (KUNA) --IRAN'S NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING WAS INAUGURATED IN A SPECIAL CEREMONY TUESDAY IN THE PRESENCE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS.
THE GRAND MODERN STRUCTURE IN DOWNTOWN TEHRAN IS BUILT OVER A TOTAL AREA OF 25,510 SQUARE METERS.
CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE PYRAMID-SHAPED SEVEN-STORY BUILDING HOUSING IRAN'S LEGISLATIVE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT STARTED IN MAY 1996.
IT IS LOCATED IN THE MAGINFICENT BAHARESTAN COMPLEX ON THE CITY BY THE SAME NAME AND WAS THE SITE OF THE PRE-REVOLUTION NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
THE MAIN CHAMBER HAS 300 SEATS. THE SPECTATORS GALLERY CAN ACCOMODATE 700 PEOPLE.
IRAN'S 290-MEMBER PARLIAMENT WHICH TOOK OFFICE LAST MAY HAS PRESENTLY 272 DEPUTIES. THE REMAINING 18 LAWMAKERS WILL BE ELECTED JUNE 8 SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
VICE PRESIDENT HASSAN HABIBI, MAJLIS SPEAKER MAHDI KARROUBI, FORMER SPEAKER ALI AKBAR NATEQ NOURI , CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCILS GUARDIAN, AHMED JANNATI, FORMER LEGISLATORS, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET, MILLITARY COMMANDERS ADN THE PRESS CORPS WERE AMONG THOSE PRESENT AT THE INAUGURATION.(END) AS.KF KUNA 131153 Mar 01NNNN