Iraq's "national dialogue" conference to open Nov. 4

BAGHDAD, Iraq A much-anticipated Iraqi national reconciliation conference aimed at building political consensus and stemming spiraling sectarian violence in the country will be held Nov. 4, a government statement said Wednesday.

The conference was originally scheduled to start this coming Friday, but had been indefinitely postponed for unspecified "emergency reasons."

The postponement reflected the upheaval worsening violence has wrought on efforts to stabilize the government and curb bloodshed. That threatened to damage the administration of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, which took office just over four months ago vowing to implement a 24-point National Reconciliation plan to heal the nation's severe political wounds.

Wednesday's statement said the conference was postponed because of organizational snags, denying what it said were Western and Arab media reports suggesting the delay was caused by disputes over the gathering. It did not elaborate.

Al-Maliki, at the helm of what is formally termed a national unity government, presented national reconciliation plan within days of taking office in May but has been unable to effectively implement any of its stipulations.

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

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