WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhuanet)-- The United States hailed on Monday positive role of the Arab League (AL) to push forward Iraq's peace process by hosting the preparatory meeting for an Iraqi national reconciliation conference in Cairo, Egypt.

    Adam Ereli, deputy spokesman of the US State Department, told anews briefing that the AL-sponsored conference will be instrumental to in pushing forward the national reconciliation process and reconstruction in Iraq.

    What the Arab League has done is a good thing, and is consistent with what the United States is aiming at in Iraq, Ereli said.

    About 100 representatives of various Iraqi religious and ethnic groups started a three-day meeting in Cairo on Saturday in hope of moving toward reconciliation.

    The gathering, held under the auspices of the Arab League, also brought together delegates from other Arab countries, Turkey, Iran, the United Nations, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a number of regional and international organizations. Enditem