Ban lifted on Saddam's allies
Former Baath party officials will be allowed back into government
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Saturday, 12, Jan 2008 02:34
Iraq's parliament has voted to allow members of former leader Saddam Hussein's Baath party to return to public life.
The bill will mean former members of the now-disbanded party will now be able to take up roles as government officials.
Previously any civil servant or military official with ties to the Sunni-dominated party had been banned from holding positions within the government in the aftermath of Saddam's removal from power in 2003.
The accountability and justice law will allow the Sunni population a stronger voice in how their country is run.
Fears had been growing that much of the Sunni insurgency was linked to former military officials from the Baath party. It is hoped the introduction of the new bill will ease sectarian tensions.
There will be a three-month period under which former party members can still be questioned and charged with previous crimes.
However once that period has finished anyone not charged will become immune from prosecution relating to incidents during Saddam's reign.
The US has been supportive of the gradual re-introduction of Baathist members into public life after the Iraqi government was left without personnel to run key government departments in the new regime.