Iraqi Parliament Holds Special Session Day After Attack(2/3)

The hall was less than full, apparently because of increased security measures and the weekly Friday driving ban from noon to 3 o'clock. Some members arrived while the meeting was in progress.

Parliament speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani called the special session to, in his words, "defy terrorism." He said parliament is stronger today than yesterday.
He said, the parliament, government and the people are all the same - they are all in the same ship which, if it sinks, will make everyone sink. He said Iraq's ship will not sink, but the terrorist's ship will.

A stream of deputies spoke about their dead colleague and many expressed determination to resolve the country's political and sectarian problems.

Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi said Iraqis must open their hearts to understand and forgive each other and take national reconciliation" class="hjdict" word="reconciliation" target=_blank>reconciliation to a new level.

Deputy Prime Minister Barhem Salih said Thursday's attack proves the terrorists do not differentiate among Iraqis, as Sunnis, Shi'ites, Kurds and Turkmen were all targets. He said the bombing was an attack against a symbol of the people's power and authority and the political system that they created.