Iraq delays national talks amid killings

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer
36 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's government indefinitely postponed a much-anticipated national reconciliation conference Sunday as a two-day spree of sectarian revenge killings and insurgent bombings left at least 86 Iraqis dead.

Meanwhile, a militant network that includes al-Qaida in Iraq announced in a video that it had established an Islamic state in six provinces, a propaganda push in its drive to force the withdrawal of U.S. forces and topple the American-backed Iraqi government.

The Mujahedeen Shura Council — an umbrella organization of insurgent groups in Iraq — said the new state was made up of six provinces including Baghdad that have large Sunni populations, along with parts of two other central provinces that are predominantly Shiite. >>>cont

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