The United States on Thursday hailed the forthcoming Iraqi National Conference as "an important and noteworthy development" in the country.

"It's an important milestone on the path to a fully representative democracy in Iraq," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said at a regular news briefing.

"We're looking forward to doing what we can to support both the government of Iraq and the UN as they work together to bring together over a thousand Iraqis to debate the future of their democracy," Ereli said.

The Iraqi interim government announced Thursday that the national conference is to be held as scheduled on Aug. 15 despite a radical Shiite uprising in central and southern Iraq.

The national conference to be attended by 1,000 representatives will choose 100 persons to form an interim National Assembly to take responsibilities until the direct general elections next January.

Source: Xinhua