President Khatami still faces opposition

The inauguration was also attended by prominent conservative and former president Hashemi Rafsanjani, who unexpectedly decided two days ago not to take his seat in the body.

BBC Tehran correspondent Jim Muir says that President Khatami should now have a parliament that will co-operate enthusiastically with his reform plans, instead of blocking them, as the outgoing, conservative-dominated legislature did.

But the hardline conservatives still hold many of the levers of real power, not least the Council of Guardians, which has to approve laws passed by parliament.

The defeated right-wing factions have mounted a counter-attack on many fronts since their election defeat.

One of the reformists most prominent leaders was shot down in the street by hardline fanatics. Said Hajjarian was badly injured but he survived.

Press crackdown

At least 17 reformist newspapers were shut down by the conservative judiciary. Reformist journalists and other liberal figures were jailed.

Former President Rafsanjani: Unexpected exit

Until recently there was even some doubt that the reformist-dominated new parliament would actually be allowed to convene. But now it is going ahead, amid sighs of relief from the reformists themselves.

Our correspondent says that while the reformists will be relieved that the new parliament is convening at last, the past three months will have convinced them that the struggle with the hardliners is still far from over.

Much may depend on who ends up in the important post of Speaker of the new chamber.

The reformists are so far divided over whom to support for the job. The candidate regarded as most likely is Mehdi Karroubi, a cleric who was Speaker once before, though a former minister, Behzad Nabavi, also has strong support.