Iraqi nat'l conference off to a rocky start

Dozens of 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, from a grouping of political and religious Shia Iraqis that worked to defuse a spring uprising by militia leader Moqtada Sadr, jumped on to the podium before he was forced down by chief organiser Fuad Maasum.

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"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.

The protestors threatened to withdraw from the conference unless military operations in Najaf were not halted immediately.

Gunfire resumed almost simultaneously in Najaf, one day after the government said its offensive against Sadr's Mehdi Army would continue in the wake of failed peace talks.

Delegates also demanded that a national council, which the conference delegates are due to appoint, be allowed to impeach members of the interim government if it is felt they do not serve the interests of the Iraqi people.

They also demanded that groups excluded from the event, among them Sadr's camp, be included.

The conference is scheduled to first hold working sessions to discuss the transition process, human rights, reconstruction and the issue of justice for those who suffered under Saddam Hussein's former dictatorship.

On the last day, delegates will select 81 members of the national council to advise the government as it paves the way for national elections scheduled for January 2005.

The other 19 seats have already been allocated to members of the defunct interim Governing Council that served between Saddam's fall and the creation of the caretaker government in early June.