Iraq Delays Reconciliation Conference due to 'emergency'

Scene of a Baghdad car bombing on Thursday

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Iraqi government on Sunday postponed indefinitely a much-anticipated national reconciliation conference aimed at shoring up the country's political system, citing "emergency reasons."

The statement issued by the Cabinet reflected the deteriorating security situation in the country, in which hundreds are dying each week in sectarian- and insurgent-inspired violence.

Failure to bring the deeply divided Iraqi politicians together as planned also appeared likely to exacerbate the crumbling effort of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to build a broader political consensus.

The Ministry of State for National Dialogue issued the one-paragraph announcement on the first anniversary of a national referendum which approved the country's first post-Saddam Hussein constitution.

"For emergency reasons out of the control of the ministry, we announce the postponement until further notice of the Iraqi political powers conference that was planned for next Saturday, Oct. 21."

Read the rest at the LA Times

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