ATLANTA (AP) — After nearly 10 months of silence, the Rev. Bernice King is telling the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to end bitter infighting that has split the group.

At a news conference Tuesday, King said she wants to lead the civil rights group but declined to say when she would take over the post to which she was elected in October. She’s previously indicated she would wait out legal wrangling.

Late last year, the leadership of the group founded by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. split into two factions that have met and made decisions separately.

The SCLC is awaiting a decision from a judge as to which faction controls the group.

King says she will lead a prayer vigil for the SCLC on Friday as the factions prepare to host dueling conventions. She has not decided whether she will attend either.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.