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Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law Bush praises Iraqi Baathist law
(about 23 hours later)
US President George W Bush has praised a new law in Iraq that will allow former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party to return to public life.US President George W Bush has praised a new law in Iraq that will allow former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party to return to public life.
Mr Bush called it an important step towards national reconciliation.Mr Bush called it an important step towards national reconciliation.
The Baath party, formed mainly from Iraq's Sunni minority, was declared illegal after the US-led invasion of the country in 2003.The Baath party, formed mainly from Iraq's Sunni minority, was declared illegal after the US-led invasion of the country in 2003.
The US had been urging Iraq's Shia-led government to approve the move in a bid to reach out to minority Sunni Arabs.The US had been urging Iraq's Shia-led government to approve the move in a bid to reach out to minority Sunni Arabs.
The new law will allow thousands of former party members to apply for reinstatement in the civil service and military.The new law will allow thousands of former party members to apply for reinstatement in the civil service and military.
"It's an important step toward reconciliation, it's an important sign that the leaders of that country understand that they must work together to meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people," said Mr Bush."It's an important step toward reconciliation, it's an important sign that the leaders of that country understand that they must work together to meet the aspirations of the Iraqi people," said Mr Bush.
The president was speaking in Bahrain, the latest stage in a tour of the Middle East. Earlier, in Kuwait, he said hope was returning to Iraq.The president was speaking in Bahrain, the latest stage in a tour of the Middle East. Earlier, in Kuwait, he said hope was returning to Iraq.
"Iraq is now a different place from one year ago. We must do all we can to ensure that 2008 will bring even greater progress," Mr Bush said."Iraq is now a different place from one year ago. We must do all we can to ensure that 2008 will bring even greater progress," Mr Bush said.
ReconciliationReconciliation
Saddam Hussein's regime was predominantly Sunni and many figures were removed from government after his fall in 2003, under an edict from ex-US administrator Paul Bremer. WHO ARE THE BAATHISTS? The party was the political instrument of Saddam Hussein's ruleAn estimated 2.5 million Iraqis were party membersBanned and broken up by US administrator in May 2003Baathism was a pan-Arab secular nationalist movement Error put right amid concernsBush tour diarySaddam Hussein's regime was predominantly Sunni and many figures were removed from government after his fall in 2003, under an edict from ex-US administrator Paul Bremer. WHO ARE THE BAATHISTS? The party was the political instrument of Saddam Hussein's ruleAn estimated 2.5 million Iraqis were party membersBanned and broken up by US administrator in May 2003Baathism was a pan-Arab secular nationalist movement Error put right amid concernsBush tour diary
The army was disbanded, thousands of teachers, university lecturers and civil servants were sacked.The army was disbanded, thousands of teachers, university lecturers and civil servants were sacked.
The initiative, based on the de-Nazification of Germany after World War II, banned anyone who had been a member of the higher tiers of the party from government employment.The initiative, based on the de-Nazification of Germany after World War II, banned anyone who had been a member of the higher tiers of the party from government employment.
Some were reinstated after the US found that it had cleared out key ministries and the military without having any replacements.Some were reinstated after the US found that it had cleared out key ministries and the military without having any replacements.
After the Americans handed over power to an Iraqi government in 2004, they urged the Shia-led administration to ease the measures further in an effort to promote national reconciliation.After the Americans handed over power to an Iraqi government in 2004, they urged the Shia-led administration to ease the measures further in an effort to promote national reconciliation.
Much of the Sunni insurgency is thought to be centred on dismissed military men from the Baathist regime.Much of the Sunni insurgency is thought to be centred on dismissed military men from the Baathist regime.
'Heavy blow''Heavy blow'
The new legislation - called the Accountability and Justice Law - was approved on Saturday by all 143 lawmakers present in the 275-member house.The new legislation - called the Accountability and Justice Law - was approved on Saturday by all 143 lawmakers present in the 275-member house.
Saddam Hussein's Baath party was predominantly SunniSaddam Hussein's Baath party was predominantly Sunni
It creates a three-month period for the ex-members to be challenged, after which they will be immune from prosecution over the Saddam era.It creates a three-month period for the ex-members to be challenged, after which they will be immune from prosecution over the Saddam era.
The law excludes former Baath members charged with crimes or still sought for them.The law excludes former Baath members charged with crimes or still sought for them.
However, it will grant state pensions to many former Baathist employees even if they are not given new posts.However, it will grant state pensions to many former Baathist employees even if they are not given new posts.
The BBC's Humphrey Hawksley in Baghdad says the legislation is seen as an attempt by the government to end the sectarian divide between the Shia and Sunni communities.The BBC's Humphrey Hawksley in Baghdad says the legislation is seen as an attempt by the government to end the sectarian divide between the Shia and Sunni communities.
But almost five years on, after much bloodshed, it is unclear how many former Baathists will take up the offer to get their jobs back, our correspondent adds.But almost five years on, after much bloodshed, it is unclear how many former Baathists will take up the offer to get their jobs back, our correspondent adds.
A spokeswoman for the US embassy in Baghdad told Reuters news agency that the new law showed "the political process is working in Iraq".A spokeswoman for the US embassy in Baghdad told Reuters news agency that the new law showed "the political process is working in Iraq".
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Meanwhile, Mr Bush said there had been a dramatic improvement in the country since the US troop "surge" last year - when 30,000 extra soldiers were sent to the Baghdad area.Meanwhile, Mr Bush said there had been a dramatic improvement in the country since the US troop "surge" last year - when 30,000 extra soldiers were sent to the Baghdad area.
He added that US and Iraqi soldiers had dealt "heavy blows" to al-Qaeda, and that the country was "now a different place from one year ago".He added that US and Iraqi soldiers had dealt "heavy blows" to al-Qaeda, and that the country was "now a different place from one year ago".
He said the withdrawal of 20,000 troops by July was on track, but no decision had been taken to bring home more.He said the withdrawal of 20,000 troops by July was on track, but no decision had been taken to bring home more.