National assembly expected to bring permanent political stability

A new national assembly opened in Comoros on Friday after a week's delay. Opposition parties, who hold the majority of seats in the 33-member national parliament, claimed the postponement was a ploy by Federal President, Azali Assoumani, to delay addressing their demands for greater autonomy. Since a February 2001 agreement aimed at bringing stability to the coup-prone islands, brokered by the Organisation for African Unity, political leaders in the archipelago have been at loggerheads over control of key government ministries. "The establishment of the federal assembly will hopefully ease the tensions between Assoumani and the presidents of the islands. This is a turning point in the country's history and there are expectations that the debate in the national parliament will consider the importance of working together to improve the living conditions for the population," local political analyst, Abdorahim Said Bacar, told IRIN. As part of a complex devolution process Moheli, Anjouan and Grande Comore govern most of their own affairs with their own presidents. In addition, a federal president and parliament sit on the largest island, Grande Comore. In local elections held recently, parties aligned to the archipelago's three regional presidents trounced Assoumani supporters.