Iraqi national conference hits snag before it begins

By JAMIE TARABAY
The Associated Press

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The three-day conference, however, was beset with difficulties even before it began. 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 were so concerned about terror attacks they wouldn't even say beforehand when or where the conference would 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 that will serve until elections scheduled for early next year. The remaining members will come from the now-dissolved Iraqi Governing Council.

The assembly will have the power to approve the national budget, veto executive orders with a two-thirds majority and appoint replacements to the Cabinet in the event a minister dies or resigns. It will not be able to pass laws.

Several key constituencies have announced boycotts of the gathering. Members of anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's movement, which has strong grassroots support among the nation's majority Shiite community, have called the conference undemocratic and refused to attend.

"We originally supported the idea, and agreed to take part because we know in the rest of the world, such an assembly would be considered the nation's parliament," said Ali al-Yasseri, an al-Sadr spokesman and managing editor of al-Hawza newspaper.

"But this assembly will have no legislative authority. ... This body will have no powers. We see this as a trick on the Iraqi people. It's a sad joke," he said.

The Association of Muslim Scholars, an influential Sunni group with links to insurgents, also will stay home, citing the interim government's reliance on the U.S.-led coalition.

"We decided not to take part in any political organization as long as the occupation exists in Iraq," said Sheik Harith al-Dhari, secretary-general of the group.
 
During the opening session yesterday in Baghdad, Iraqi police blocked nearby roads, emptying one of the main arteries in the center of Baghdad. Authorities, assisted by coalition troops and interior ministry forces, are expected to use even tighter security measures at the conference, al-Ruhaimi said.

Many of the delegates were just beginning to discover what a fickle creature democracy can be.

The 540 representatives from Baghdad's outlying districts — assigned to choose 26 delegates to the conference — came with concrete ideas of how the process should be conducted.

Some voiced disdain, others outrage at the little time they had to prepare. While some districts knew about the elections more than a month ago, some only found out last week.

"We've had over a year to prepare for this," said Nasir Medhi, furiously wiping the sweat from his brow, and growing more and more agitated. "More than a year, and yet we only get a day's notice to pick a group to send here."

Debate was heated. Votes were coaxed. There was talk of something more than just a little persuasion.

"It has to be a real democracy," stressed Abdullah Mansour, sent from Abu Ghraib to vote. "I know everyone has a different idea of what it should be, but while it needs to be nurtured slowly it also has to be accountable."