Iraqi leaders gathered in Cairo on Saturday with the chief of the Arab League warning against allowing the country to slip into "sedition or civil infighting."
In his opening remarks, Secretary-General Amr Moussa also called for regional and international help for Iraq. "Protecting Iraq against the danger of slipping toward sedition or civil infighting is in the best interest of the Arabs ... . It's also a Turkish, Iranian and international interest," he said, according to the AP. "No one will gain anything by transforming Iraq into a battleground for regional and international conflicts and tensions."
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Iraq was at a turning point. "The future of Iraq will depend on national accord that you'll shape with open minds and hearts, that raise above sects, and religious and racial identity."
The Arab League, which is sponsoring the gathering, agreed to exclude those involved in atrocities against Iraqis but has declined to reveal the entire list of participants. Among those known to be invited are representatives of four key Sunni political parties.
Moussa invited about 100 Iraqi leaders to the gathering, which aims to prepare for a full reconciliation conference to be held in Iraq.
