Preparatory meeting for national conference started today

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The preparatory meeting for the national conference was held today, according to a presidential source. The national conference is expected to be convened at the end of this month. The source told IraqiNews.com that the preparatory meeting was chaired by President Jalal Talabani, Premier Nouri al-Maliki and Parliament Speaker Usama Nujaifi, in addition to the participation of the heads of political entities. Iraq is undergoing a political crisis following al-Iraqiya Bloc‘s withdrawal from the parliament and cabinet session in protest to the accusations made against Vice-President Tariq al-Hashimi and the arrest warrant issued against him. The preparations are being made according to the initiative of President Talabani, which is due at the end of this month, in an attempt to solve the present crisis. RM (TS)/SR969