Moussa continued consultations in Iraq

Concerning political developments in Iraq, the Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa continued his consultations on Sunday with Iraqi political forces in order to arrange for the Iraqi reconciliation conference which the AL proposed to convene in Cairo in mid November.

The Arab League chief attended a session for the Kurdish parliament in Irbil and commended in a speech he delivered before the parliament what he called the "new Iraq," stressing that Iraq by all its colors and sects represents an integrated part of the Arab states.

Moussa stressed the need that Iraq achieve self reconciliation and to conclude a comprehensive national coexistence among all members of society. He considered that what he called "a free independent united Iraq represents a qualitative political development in the region."

He added there are many obstacles the Iraqis should overcome to achieve a stable situation towards a positive future in which the Iraqis enjoy the right of who will rule them.

Moussa who met with the Kurdish Leader Masoud al-Barazani on Saturday explained that the mission of the reconciliation conference is difficult but not impossible, noting that the initiative deals with all national political forces in Iraq.

Barazani expressed a high flexibility from the Kurdish side in order to provide the initiative a success. Moussa also got the support of the Supreme Shiite clergy in Iraq Ayatullah Ali al-Seistani with whom he had met in Najaf on Saturday on the idea of convening the conference.

For his part, the secretary general for the Sunni national dialogue council Saleh al-Mutlaq said that the AL chief extended a verbal invitation to him to attend the Cairo conference. He added that these calls will cover 80 Iraqis representing all trends and groups.

He also agreed on the return back of the AL assistant secretary general Ahmad Bin Hali to Baghdad once again to complete preparations for the conference.