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Bill Would Put Ba'athists Back in Power

Aim is to woo Sunnis into Shiite-dominated government

By Colleen Barry, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 28, 2007 8:47 AM CDT

(Newser) – Ba'athists will be allowed back in government posts if a bill proposed yesterday, aimed at reconciling dissident Sunnis with the Shiite-dominated government, passes the Iraqi parliament. The U.S has been pushing for the law to law to woo the former Saddam loyalists —mostly Sunnis— into the political process to quell Sunni insurgency.

All Ba'athists were booted from government after the U.S. invasion, even though party membership was required for civil service jobs. "Membership of the Ba'ath party was unavoidable for many people," a western diplomat observed. "Should they punish them for that?" The bill provides for amnesty for any Ba'athist not already charged with crimes after a three-month public challenge period.

Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein (Getty Images (by Event))

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (Getty Images)

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Bill Would Put Ba'athists Back in Power

Aim is to woo Sunnis into Shiite-dominated government

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Cleric Opposes Rebaathification

Sistani rejects law aimed at quelling Sunni insurgency

Morgue Stats Show Surge in Iraqi Killings

321 corpses found in Baghdad in first three weeks of May alone

Shiite al-Sadr Reaches Out to Sunni Rivals

Switch in tactics aims at hastening US withdrawal

Eight Dead In Bombing of Iraqi Parliament

Suspected suicide bomber was bodyguard of Sunni MP

Sunni Baghdad Lies in Ruins as Shiites Rebuild

Insurgents target efforts to provide food, fuel, services

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Bill Would Put Ba'athists Back in Power

Aim is to woo Sunnis into Shiite-dominated government

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Iraq • Saddam Hussein • War on Terror • sectarian violence • Sunni • Shiite • insurgents • Ba'thists • Baath Party

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Cleric Opposes Rebaathification

Sistani rejects law aimed at quelling Sunni insurgency

Morgue Stats Show Surge in Iraqi Killings

321 corpses found in Baghdad in first three weeks of May alone

Shiite al-Sadr Reaches Out to Sunni Rivals

Switch in tactics aims at hastening US withdrawal

Eight Dead In Bombing of Iraqi Parliament

Suspected suicide bomber was bodyguard of Sunni MP

Sunni Baghdad Lies in Ruins as Shiites Rebuild

Insurgents target efforts to provide food, fuel, services

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?