Iraq conference collapses

by Tisha Steyn

Baghdad - A large group of people walked out of a national conference billed as an experiment in Iraqi democracy shortly after it opened, as fighting resumed in the holy city of Najaf.

More than 100 people leapt out of their seats as soon as UN special envoy to Iraq, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, finished his opening speech, shouting "as long as there are airstrikes and shelling we can’t have a conference".

Yahya Mussawi, a representative of a group known as the Shiite House, which worked to defuse a spring uprising by Shiite militia leader Moqtada Sadr, jumped on to the podium before he was forced down by chief organiser Fuad Maasum.

"Part of democracy is that you listen to the Iraqi people. It is time that you heard us and we ask that military operations stop in Najaf immediately and dialogue takes place," he shouted.

"Listen to us, prime minister, listen to us," said the protestors, as Maasum announced that there would be a 30-minute break in the proceedings.

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