Iraq parliament hears draft law on former Baathists

Source: Reuters

Iraq parliament hears draft law on former Baathists
Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:35am EST

By Mariam Karouny

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A bill that would ease curbs on
former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party joining
Iraq's civil service and military was read in parliament
on Sunday, but was rejected by a powerful Shi'ite faction.

It marked the first time parliament has taken up any of
several bills that the United States says are vital to
helping reconcile majority Shi'ites and minority Sunni
Arabs.

"The bill was put on the schedule this morning because we
need to get moving on this," a parliamentary official said.

It was being read for the first time ahead of debate on
the measure, the official told Reuters. It was unclear
when debate would begin.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL0667667620071125

Row mars Iraq parl't hearing on Baathists bill
25 Nov 2007 14:11:31 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Mariam Karouny

BAGHDAD, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A bill that would ease curbs on former Baathists was presented to Iraq's parliament on Sunday, but a row quickly erupted and forced postponement of debate on a draft law seen as vital to fostering national reconciliation.

It was the first time parliament had taken up any major bills this year that Washington believes will help heal the deep divide between majority Shi'ites and minority Sunni Arabs.

Objections to the bill from a key Shi'ite faction and arguments over whether it had been submitted properly prevented the draft law from being read out fully, participants at the closed-door session told Reuters.

The row underscores the discord over a law that would formally relax restrictions on former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party joining the civil service and military.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25177694.htm

http://www.alsabaah.com/paper.php?source=akbar&mlf=interpage&sid=53007

The above link is a short Iraqi MSM story that hints more detainees held in Iraqi jails could soon be released and in a directly related article;


Beginning countdown of military operations in Diyala

http://www.alsabaah.com/paper.php?source=akbar&mlf=interpage&sid=53006

A short Iraqi news source excerpt that talks about the upcomming surge in Diyala,the vetted Iraqi troops going into the "surge" operation and local authorities (tribes) being encouraged to assist dangling the carrot called "reconciliation" as reward.

On a side note;

If these locals call in US airstrikes, they better keep the lines of communication open and clear this time.
Don't need to read any articles about "US bombs Iraqi collaborators by mistake".