Kabul: Afghanistan's first Parliament in 30 years opened its doors to more than 300 newly elected MPs in Kabul on Monday.
Former King Zahir Shah addressed the inaugural session and the MPs were sworn in by President Hamid Karzai.
Among those present at the ceremonies was US Vice President Dick Cheney.
Shah said the first session of Parliament was a "step toward democracy" and a display of national unity.
Karzai is also considering reshuffling his Cabinet and cutting the number of ministers.
Parliament has the right to endorse ministers chosen by Karzai, who was voted in as Afghanistan's first directly elected President last year.
Afghanistan currently has 27 ministries headed by a range of figures, including former members of military factions, technocrats and several women.
Many Afghans complain that ministers lack expertise and were picked for political reasons by Karzai in a bid to reconcile rival groups as Afghanistan emerges from decades of war.
The Foreign Minister's post has been held for the past four years by Abdullah Abdullah, a medical doctor who was formerly a spokesman for Ahmad Shah Masood, the leader of the anti-Taliban North Alliance who was assassinated in 2001.
Analysts say he could face problems convincing it to approve all his ministers given disappointment at his administration's failure to improve people's lives and carry out crucial reforms.
News of the planned reshuffle comes ahead of a major donors conference to be held in London at the end of January at which participants will want to hear Karzai's plans for reconstruction and administrative reform before committing more funds.
Tens of thousands of US-led foreign troops and billions of dollars of aid have ensured relative stability and brought new prosperity to cities like Kabul, but most beneficiaries have been the already rich, while the poor struggle with soaring prices.
Security was tight following a Taliban suicide attack near Parliament on Saturday.
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