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Shiites Shout Down Iraqi Law

Bill to let Baathists in government gets shelved after uproar; Bush calls law vital

By Laurel Jorgensen, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 25, 2007 8:39 PM CST

(Newser) – Iraqi lawmakers shouted down a bill today that would let members of Saddam's Baath party return to public posts, AFP reports. Shiite lawmakers heckled the first reading of the measure, which Bush has touted as a benchmark of Iraqi progress. Now the bill goes to a legal body for changes, Reuters reports. "This means it will take a long time," one source said.

Some Shiites said the bill—which would let Baathists join the civil service and military—must keep them from reaching high-ranking positions later on. Others complained that a legal committee hadn't vetted the bill first. "The law should have been presented properly so those objecting could not find a hole in the presentation," said a Kurdish lawmaker.

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmud al-Mashhadani speaks to journalists in this file photo. Al-Mashhadani ordered that a parliamentary session continue behind closed doors today after shouting erupted during... (Getty Images )

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmud al-Mashhadani speaks during a session of parliament in this file photo. Al-Mashhadani ordered that a parliamentary session continue behind closed doors today after shouting... (Getty Images)

Iraqi parliament holds a special parliament session in Baghdad, Friday, April 13, 2007. Few Iraqi lawmakers managed to attend a rare emergency legislative session planned for Friday, a day after a suicide... (Associated Press)

Parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, center, opens a special parliament session by reciting Koranic verses in Baghdad, Friday, April 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Ceerwan Aziz, Pool) (Associated Press)

Iraqi parliament holds a special parliament session in Baghdad, Friday, April 13, 2007, in this file photo. Shiites heckled the first reading of a bill in parliament today that would let members of Saddam... (Associated Press)

Parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, center, speaks during a special parliament session in Baghdad, Friday, April 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Ceerwan Aziz, Pool) (Associated Press)

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Shiites Shout Down Iraqi Law

Bill to let Baathists in government gets shelved after uproar; Bush calls law vital

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Shiites Shout Down Iraqi Law

Bill to let Baathists in government gets shelved after uproar; Bush calls law vital

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Related links

Iraq • Saddam Hussein • Shiite • Iraq parliament • Baathists • Baath Party

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Iraq Officials Busted in Coup Plot

Generals, old regime members arrested in Ministry of Interior sweep

Iraq Ends Ban on Saddam-Era Baath Officials

Will allow thousands of civil servants to reapply for jobs, pensions

Cleric Opposes Rebaathification

Sistani rejects law aimed at quelling Sunni insurgency

Bill Would Put Ba'athists Back in Power

Aim is to woo Sunnis into Shiite-dominated government

West Worried About Heavy-Handed Iraq PM

Maliki crackdown may herald return to authoritarian rule

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Newser By Users

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