Islamic nations convene; Iran, others stay away

Heads of state from Islamic nations begin a three-day conference, with Iran, still locked in a war with Iraq, refusing to attend. A delegation from the Islamic Conference Organization went to Tehran last week to persuade the Iranians to attend the conference. But Iran said it would not sit down at the same conference table as Iraq's President Saddam Hussein, who will attend. Egypt and Afghanistan will also not b e present, and there is some doubt about Libya's attendance.