JORDAN SAID ON FRIDAY IT POSTPONED A CONFERENCE OF MUSLIM RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO TRY TO HEAL SECTARIAN DIVISIONS AMONG IRAQ'S MAIN SUNNI AND SHI'ITE SECTS THAT HAS PUSHED THE COUNTRY TO THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR, REUTERS REPORTED. IRAQI PRESIDENT JALAL TALABANI HAD PHONED KING ABDULLAH ON THURSDAY ASKING FOR THE DELAY IN THE ARAB LEAGUE-SPONSORED CONFERENCE PLANNED FOR SATURDAY IN THE PRESENCE OF SOME OF THE MUSLIM WORLD'S MOST PROMINENT CLERICS AND MANY OF IRAQ'S RELIGIOUS AND TRIBAL LEADERS. "THE IRAQI REQUEST TO DELAY THE IRAQI-ISLAMIC RECONCILIATION SUMMIT AT THE LAST MINUTE WAS DUE TO THE PREOCCUPATION OF A NUMBER OF LEADING IRAQI FIGURES WITH THE CONSULTATIONS OVER THE NEXT GOVERNMENT AND THEIR INABILITY TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE," ABDUL SALAM AL-ABBADI, THE CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN, TOLD THE STATE NEWS AGENCY. TALABANI HAD TOLD THE MONARCH MANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS WOULD BE ATTENDING THE SESSION OF THE IRAQI PARLIAMENT THAT WAS DUE TO CONVENE ON SATURDAY AMID HOPES OF BREAKING A DEADLOCK OVER FORMING A NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT.
