"Parliament deputies are hoping to chase evil spirits from the Zhogorku Kenesh," an official with the public relations department said.

The three regents, all members of the last three governments, Parliament deputies, heads of the army and eminent journalists were executed by the Communists in February 1945.

"The explosions caused injuries to at least four ministers and 10 Parliament deputies," the official said.

It isn't the glare that is causing her to wince but the racket of three Parliament deputies arguing endlessly over the loudspeakers about privatization.

"The royal family is no longer impeding sensitive investigations," said a Parliament deputy, Abdullah al-Nibari.

Mr. Pawkowicz, a native of Vienna, joined the right-wing Freedom Party in 1971 and served in numerous leadership positions, including Parliament deputy for a year.

He was a Parliament deputy between 1961 and 1972.

Aleksei Arbatov, a military specialist and Parliament deputy from the liberal Yabloko party, described General Sergeyev as one of Russia's most intellectual and technically versed generals.

After the meeting, al-Sadr visited supporters in Istanbul, where al-Obeidi says they may open a representative office, and attended a meeting with five Iraqi Parliament deputies.

The elections took place amidst a serious political crisis following the January 2004 decision to ban about 2500 candidates - nearly half of the total - including 80 sitting Parliament deputies.