BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon's first parliament since the 1975-90 civil war not controlled by pro-Damascus factions held its inaugural session Tuesday, a week after the conclusion of the first elections free of Syrian troops.

In an opening address, the dean of the legislature, Edmond Naim, 82, appealed to MPs to adopt two urgent reforms championed by the main opposition alliance which won an eight-seat majority in the 128-seat assembly.

Naim, who was presiding over the session pending the election of a new speaker later in the day, urged MPs to support an amnesty for Samir Geagea, leader of the Christian Lebanese Forces, the only civil war militia leader jailed here.

The octogenerian parliamentarian is himself a member of the LF, which joined forces with Sunni leader Saad Hariri and Druze leader and wartime foe Walid Jumblatt in the victorious opposition alliance.

Naim also called on MPs to prepare an urgent reform of the electoral system, which was strongly criticised by European Union poll observers as well as members of the opposition.

Pro-Syrian Shiite MP Nabih Berri, who held the speakership in the last three parliaments, was expected to be re-elected unopposed.

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