Iraq: Reconciliation conference differences

ap: An Arab League-sponsored conference to foster national reconciliation in
Iraq has been postponed until August, league chief Amr Moussa said Wednesday.

The conference, aimed at bringing together representatives of Iraq's ethnic and political-based forces, had already been postponed from earlier this year to June 22 following the deterioration of the security situation in Iraq.

Moussa said that the conference will be held in Baghdad, but added, "some still have reservations about the venue." He did not say why the timing had been changed.

Meanwhile, Iraq's Deputy Foreign Minister Saad al-Hayani, asked to comment on the new date, said that the timing was up to the league.

"In fact, we don't interfere in this matter. It is up the Arab League," he told The Associated Press.

Shiites have opposed opening the peace conference to Sunni Arab officials from the regime of deposed leader Saddam Hussein or from pro-insurgency groups. League officials said that invitations would depend on the outcome of negotiations between Iraqi officials and insurgents.

A meeting in Egypt in November that was to prepare for the conference failed to produce tangible solutions for Iraq's enduring chaos. Link