BAGHDAD, Aug 14 (AFP) - Iraq's much-anticipated national conference, seen as a major experiment in democracy, will open Sunday, the president of the preparatory committee confirmed Saturday.
"There was concern during the past few days that the conference would be delayed, but it will start tomorrow at 11:00 am (0700 GMT)," Fuad Maassum told reporters.
He spoke as the government announced it would resume military operations in central city of Najaf after talks with representatives of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr failed to put an end to fighting.
Maassum again invited Sadr's movement to attend the conference, although the cleric has previously rejected the invitation.
"I invite the Sadr camp to attend," Maassum said. "We did not want to put Sayed Moqtada in an uncomfortable position by inviting him personally, but the invitation is open to his movement."
Maassum claimed the absence of Sadr's camp and the influential Sunni Muslim Committee of Muslim Scholars will not diminish the conference's legitimacy or significance.
"That is the political decision they have made and that is their prerogative," he said.
He said the fact that 1,300 delegates representing political parties, religious groups and civil society organisations are due to attend is proof most Iraqis are eager for the conference to take place.
The official said the conference will be a chance to discuss and solve many of the country's conflicts, but confessed it did not possess a "magical wand."
"I admit that the conference does not hold a magic wand to solve all of Iraq's problems in two or three days, but it will at least be an chance for the majority of Iraqi's to agree on the nature of the transition process," he said.
The conference will appoint a legislative body for Iraq's interim government as well as hold working sessions to discuss the transition process, human rights, reconstruction and the issue of justice for those that suffered under the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein.
It was delayed late last month at the request of UN chief Kofi Annan to allow more time for boycotting politicians to be persuaded to participate.