Candidates slated for Black Mayors meeting

NEW ORLEANS, June 4 (UPI) -- The National Conference of Black Mayors opened its annual meeting in New Orleans Wednesday with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on the agenda, officials said.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune said the Democratic presidential candidates would take part in a forum on Saturday that presumptive Republican nominee John McCain declined to attend due to a schedule conflict.

Recent developments in the Democratic race mean Obama will take the stage on Saturday as the first African-American to be the presumptive presidential nominee of a major U.S. party, the report said.

The newspaper said the conference, which adjourns Sunday, will draw about 2,000 attendees.

Also on the agenda are honors to be presented to National Education Association President Reg Weaver and football great Jim Brown.