Iraq's National Assembly started its inaugural session in Baghdad on Wednesday, as insurgents launched at least seven mortar shells at the venue.

The 100-member interim parliament was sworn in during the meeting, completing the set-up of the interim government in the war-torn country.

The assembly's session is due to last for four days with a break on Friday. Members of the assembly will elect a speaker and possibly two deputies as well as a recording secretary.

The opening session was rocked by mortar attacks near the heavily fortified Green Zone that houses the Palace of Convention where the lawmakers were gathering.

Five mortar rounds landed near a checkpoint on the entrance of the Green Zone just moments before the inauguration began, wounding two Iraqis.

Shortly after that, another two mortar rounds landed near the venue and reporters were instructed to be away from the windows inside the palace.

Two US Apache helicopters were seen hovering over the vast compound which houses the interim government and US and British embassies.

The interim parliament was chosen from some 1,300 delegates of a national conference on Aug. 18.

It will supervise the operations of the interim government and pave way for the democratic elections in January 2005.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2004)