Iraq Conference Hits Snag Before Start

[floda]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Hundreds of Iraqis gathered at an elegant Baghdad country club Sunday to choose delegates for a national conference, considered a key first step in transforming this former dictatorship into a democracy.

The conference, however, is beset with difficulties even before it begins. Leaders in some provinces are so divided they may not be able to agree on any delegates at all. Some key factions have said they will boycott the event. And organizers are so concerned about terror attacks they won't even say when or where the conference will be held.


"It isn't the easiest thing, trying to get this done, but it will all work out. The security, the organization, everything is moving," said Abdul Halim al-Ruhaimi, a conference organizer. "We're trying to move on to democracy after all this time."


The conference was stipulated by a law enacted by the departing U.S. civil administration last month. Made up of delegates from Iraq's 18 provinces as well as tribal, religious and political leaders, the gathering will choose 80 of its delegates to join a 100-member national assembly. The remaining members will come from the now-dissolved Iraqi Governing Council.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=2&u=/ap/20040725/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_national_conference