Large Group Walks Out Of Iraq Conference

BAGHDAD, Aug 15 (AFP)

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". ..

"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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as long as there are airstrikes and shelling we can't have a conference, they say.

A ludicrous thought that could only be the work of radicals! Who on earth would agree with the notion that holding a conference on democracy while a foreign nation bombs one of your cities is at all strange? Nobody would agree with such nonsense...:eyes:

How dare they have an opinion?

have to sign a loyalty oath to attend? They're not following the Bush script of Democracy in action.

:eyes:

Don't these people realize that the U.S. only supports democratic ideals when it suits our needs?

JB

Link: http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10453838%255E1702,00.html