conference Baghdad, Iraq, Aug 15, SPA -- Hundreds of delegates from across Iraq gathered under intense security in Baghdad on Sundayfor a three-day national conference. Delegates had high expectations for this unprecedentedgathering of religious, political and civic leaders, whichwill help elect a 100-member national council to act as awatchdog over the interim government ahead of electionsscheduled for January. As many as 70 different groups have agreed to participate, conference chairman Fuad Masoum said. Among its responsibilities, the conference will elect 81members of the 100-member national council, with theremainder coming from former members of the Iraqi GoverningCouncil who were left out of the interim government. The conference was intended to give Iraq's diverse ethnicand political groups, some of whom may have been left outof the interim government, a voice in the country and tomove the nation toward democracy. In January, Iraq is to hold elections to choose atransitional government. The newly elected government thenwill convene a national convention to draft a constitutionto be put to the voters in October 2005. Iraqis will thenhold another vote in December 2005 for a constitutionallybased government. "The success of this conference would greatly facilitatethe objective of holding elections by January 2005," saida statement from the office of new U.N. envoy AshrafJehangir Qazi, who will oversee the gathering.--SPA1144 Local Time 0844 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/192037