EXCUSE ME - YOUR INCONSISTENCY IS SHOWING

The dual myths of Arab brotherhood and the unity of all Islam are laid bare for all to see.

Wouldn't be because a burgeoning democracy makes the illegitimate potentates self conscious and nervous, now would it?

Iraq's interim leaders will not be welcome at a gathering next month of Islamic nations' heads of state, but the country's current status is likely to feature strongly in the discussions.

The decision not to invite Iraq to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) summit comes despite the Arab League's acceptance earlier this month of the country's U.S.-appointed Governing Council.

This week, Iraq's seat at the U.N. General Assembly session in New York is being occupied by the rotating head of the Governing Council, Ahmad Chalabi, who is due to address the meeting next week.

The council was appointed last July by the U.S. administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremer, three months after U.S.-led forces ousted Saddam Hussein.

Despite its conditional acceptance by the 22-member Arab League and its participation in the General Assembly session, it has yet to find similar recognition from the bloc of Islamic states.