In news from Iraq, a major political convention scheduled for this weekend has been postponed. The convention which was to gather 1,000 delegates was being billed as a key step toward democracy for Iraq.

The convention has been postponed two weeks in part because of the ongoing violence in Iraq and because of a debates over the make-up of the delegate.

Delegates at the convention will select100 members of a national assembly that will serve as an interim legislature until national elections are held.

Meanwhile Iraq’s unelected Prime Minister Ayad Allawi yesterday expressed support for a Saudi plan to form an international security force to serve in Iraq.