Iraq national conference goes ahead

Iraq's national conference is to start today, despite the surge of violence in the Shiite areas of the country.

Head of the preparatory committee, Fuad Maassum, says it is a perfect time for the conference to discuss the current problems and find solutions, CRIENGLISH.com reported Sunday.

Maassum again invited Moqtada al-Sadr to attend the conference, although the radical Shiite cleric has previously rejected the invitation.

Yesterday, truce talks aimed at ending more than a week of violence between Shiite militants and US forces in the holy city of Najaf broke down.

Iraqi National Security Adviser, Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie, says Iraq's interim government will resume military operations in Najaf.

Since last Thursday, hundreds of people have been killed in the fighting in Najaf.

CRIENGLISH.com