Analysis: Forging reconciliation against formidable odds

BAGHDAD, Iraq: Iraq's prime minister has talked about the need for Iraq's rival ethnic and religious factions to rally around a plan to end violence since taking office nearly seven months ago.

But the country may never have looked further from national reconciliation as it does now, dampening hopes for a long-awaited conference convening Saturday that is aimed at bringing the country's myriad factions together to pave the way for peace.

"Reconciliation is the last rescue boat for the Iraqis," government spokesman Ali al-Dabagh said at a news briefing this week.

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