The 300 delegates invited to attend include exiled members of former leader Saddam Hussein's Baath party. Hardline Sunni insurgents and radical Shias are not taking part.

Iraqis are desperate for an end to the deadlock but there's little hope this conference will do that.

Neighbourhoods are splitting along sectarian lines in a conflict that is killing about 100 Iraqis a day.

Prime minister Nouri al-Maliki said the meeting was open to those who did not have blood on their hands. He said the new Iraqi and the government "is prepared to absorb those who have the desire to serve the nation", including members of the military and Baath party under Saddam Hussein's rule.

Some exiled Sunni Arabs who were leading figures in the Baath party have been invited to attend.

However, representatives of Iraq's majority Shia community, which was persecuted under Saddam's rule, have threatened to boycott the talks if Baathists attend.

The talks have been delayed several times and were launched with little fanfare.