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Maliki unveils national reconciliation plan

Jonathan Steele

Details vague on an amnesty for militants, a timetable for foreign troops to withdraw

Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki unveiled a plan on Sunday for national reconciliation but left details vague on an amnesty for militants, a timetable for foreign troops to withdraw, and laws disqualifying former members of the Ba'ath party from important jobs.

It also failed to offer a clear path for disarming the militias, which are currently seen as the greatest security threat.

The plan was presented as an olive branch to Sunni militants, but the initial draft seems to have run into opposition from some Shia leaders — as well as U.S. officials who felt it went too far.

One idea had been to end large-scale U.S. military assaults on cities such as Ramadi and Haditha in the mainly Sunni province of Anbar, which have led to civilian casualties and alienated Sunnis.

But the plan outlined by Mr. Maliki talks only of setting rules of engagement that require military commanders to take special conditions into account before launching offensives — a formula seemingly offering no change from current policy.

The amnesty for militants will not apply to people who have perpetrated terrorist acts, killed Iraqi and American-led forces, or ``committed crimes against the Iraqi people''.

This means only a small number of new recruits to the militancy or people who have played a backroom role will qualify.

``The launch of this national reconciliation initiative should not be read as a reward for the killers and criminals or acceptance of their actions. No, one thousand times no. There can be no agreement with them unless they face the justice,'' Mr. Maliki said.

De-Ba'athification laws will be reconsidered, but there is no guarantee they will be softened or revoked. The plan says unconvicted detenus will have their time spent in prison considered as part of their mandatory military service.

It called on MPs to discuss a ``timeline'' for Iraqi forces to take over all security duties in the country but gave no details on how this would link to the withdrawal of American and British forces.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

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