Iraq reconciliation conference on hold as 83 die in weekend of violence

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http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=world-qqqm=world-qqqa=world-qqqid=15831-qqqx=1.asp

IRAQ’S government has indefinitely postponed a much-anticipated national reconciliation conference yesterday as at least 83 people were reported dead in two days of sectarian revenge killings and insurgent bombings.

Meanwhile, the US military reported the deaths of a marine and four soldiers.

A brief statement from the Ministry of State for National Dialogue said the Iraqi political powers conference planned for Saturday had been put off because of “emergency reasons out of the control of the ministry”.

Hundreds of Iraqis have died in attacks and 54 US military personnel have been killed in the first two weeks alone.