An Iraqi national conference began in Beirut Sunday in support of Iraq's unity and to voice opposition to the U.S. occupation of Iraq, Assafir reported Monday. The anti-U.S. parley was aimed at devising an "Iraqi movement" to confront U.S. policies following its war on Iraq, which led to the toppling of the autocratic regime but has caused devastation throughout the country. The paper said that most of the participants in the conference belonged to the Arab Nationalist Nasserite Movement, which includes the Nasserite Socialist Party, the Unified Democratic Party, the National Independence and the Arab National Forum. Other participants represented the Islamic movements in Iraq. The paper added that the Kurds were not present in the parley following threats from the Kurdish leaders in Iraq against Muslim Sheikhs participating in the meeting.

According to Assafir, the conference, which was supposed to begin in the morning, was delayed until 6 p.m. due to the late arrival of almost half of the Iraqi delegates. The paper said that the delegation failed to arrive on time due to problems it encountered on the Lebanese border. The paper added that members of the delegation lacked official documents that permit them entry to the country. However, Druze overlord and Chief of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblat, who is one of the major supporters of the conference, said that the delay was politically motivated and was the result of his anti-U.S. stances and his positions against the new Iraqi interim government. Jumblat had earlier snubbed Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi during his recent visit to Beirut. He accused the Iraqi government of collaborating with the U.S. occupation forces.

The paper quoted participant Jamal Samerai' as saying that the conference would discuss national issues pertaining to Iraq. "It is a preparatory conference that will elect a preparatory committee entitled to organize a national Iraqi founding conference expected to be held at a later stage," Samerai said. Asked about the reasons that led to holding the conference in Beirut, Samerai replied: "First, it was due to the inability of ensuring security for the participating figures in Iraq (amid the unstable situation) and second, it was related to the media. The Iraqi media is pro-govt., therefore it would give it (conference) minimal attention."

Speaking during the conference, Jumblat said that holding the conference in Beirut represented a challenge to the occupation forces in Iraq. "Iraq's unity is a challenge to the occupation," Jumblat said. He addressed the participants by saying, "...None of the Arab officials can help you achieve Iraq's independence since they have welcomed the representative of the government collaborating with the U.S. in their countries." He was alluding to Allawi's tour made earlier to the region. "You alone are able to confront the Iraqi government at the political and military levels to achieve a democratic Iraq," Jumblat added.