Iraq's president said during a reconciliation conference Sunday he was ready for talks with anti-government opposition figures and members of Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath Party, and he called on the Sunni-led insurgency to lay down its arms and join the political process.

But President Jalal Talabani, in Cairo for the US-backed and Arab League-sponsored conference, insisted that the Iraqi government would not meet with Baath Party members who are currently participating in the Sunni-led insurgency and attacking Iraqi and US-led forces in the country.

"I am the president of Iraq and I am responsible for all Iraqis. If those who describe themselves as Iraqi resistance want to contact me, they are welcome," Talabani told reporters. "I want to listen to all Iraqis. I am committed to listen to them, even those who are criminals and are on trial."

Talabani made clear in his remarks, however, that he would talk with insurgents and "criminals" if they put down their weapons.

Talabani's remarks came amid reports that he had already met with representatives of the former regime in Cairo. They also appeared to catch some Shiite delegates by surprise.

"This is a unilateral move, which was not coordinated with us," said one Shiite leader, who declined to be identified by name, fearing political repercussions.

The London-based Al Hayat newspaper reported Sunday that Talabani had received proposals from insurgent groups and that their "conditions" were being reviewed in coordination with the Pentagon and American officials at the Cairo conference. Talabani did not comment on the report.

"Those who carry guns should come back to their senses, there is no reason to hold arms," he said.

The three-day meeting in Cairo opened Saturday under the auspices of the Arab League in an attempt to patch over ethnic and religious fault lines and address the contentious issue of who would participate in a larger reconciliation conference planned for January.

Leaders of Iraq's Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish communities are struggling with serious differences over power sharing, the 30 month insurgency and the future of the US troops in Iraq.

Sunni leaders, who were dominant under the Saddam regime, are pressing ahead with demands that the Shiite-majority government should agree to a time table for the withdrawal of all foreign troops and broad amendments to the constitution which was ratified on October 15.

They also want recognition for resistance forces and the reconstitution of Saddam's army in order to bring back former regime officers.

Shiites have been skeptical of the conference from the start and strongly opposed participation by Sunni Arab officials from the former Saddam regime or from pro-insurgency groups.

The conference nearly collapsed on its first day when Shiite and Kurdish delegates stormed out of the closed session, infuriated when a speaker said they had sold out to the Americans.

Later they were persuaded by Saudi foreign minister Prince Saudi Al Faisal to return after an apology, but the walkout highlighted the sectarian and political divisions at the all-party gathering, which was boycotted by some key leaders of Iraq's Shiite and Sunni communities.

As delegates continued talks Sunday, they agreed to form a committee to work out an agenda for the January meeting. Alaa Rushdi, a spokesman for the League, said Secretary-General Amr Moussa and Arab foreign ministers were trying to bridge the deep gaps separating the parties.

(Chinadaily.com via agencies November 21, 2005)