Iraqi peace moves stoke Saddam party return fears

By Waleed Ibrahim and Mohammed Abbas - Analysis

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi government's moves for reconciliation with members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party raise questions about a reincarnation of the once-omnipotent party, an idea rejected by those persecuted under his rule.

"Every political power must believe in national principles, the unity of the country, the peaceful transition of power, democracy, and so forth," said Saad al-Muttalibi, an adviser to the Iraqi government's High Committee for Reconciliation.

"If (Baathists) believe in these principles and announce them publicly, I do not think there will be barrier to them taking part in politics and power in Iraq."

Saddam, a Sunni Arab, headed Iraq's branch of the Baath party, which was founded in Syria in the 1940s as a socialist, secularist force toiling for pan-Arab unity.

In Iraq, it stamped out opposition under Saddam, killing tens of thousands of majority Shi'ites and minority Kurds.

But as the country emerges from years of sectarian slaughter following Saddam's overthrow in 2003, the Shi'ite-led government says it is trying to make peace with its foes, including those members of the Baath party who committed no crimes.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shi'ite, last week called for forgiveness for those "who committed mistakes, who were obliged in that difficult era to side with the past regime."

The reconciliation committee has held talks with officials, living outside Iraq, from what it calls the Baath party's "left wing," which Muttalibi said split from Saddam's branch long ago.

Such distinctions underscore the delicacy of any hint of reviving a post-Saddam Iraqi Baath party.

Under Saddam's rule almost all officials, bureaucrats and many professionals were obliged to join the Baath party.

Yet the United States sacked tens of thousands of members after the invasion, a move that fueled years of insurgency and led to a shortage of Iraqis qualified to run the country.

Iraq has since the passed legislation to help reverse the purge, but critics complain Maliki's government is dragging its feet on implementing such steps.

BAATH IS BACK?

Iraq's constitution bans "Saddam's" Baath party, an opening that might permit the forming of another Baath party. Syria has been ruled by a different branch of the Baath party for decades.

The party remains banned in any form in Iraq, and lifting that prohibition would require an act of parliament. This month, Iraqi forces arrested men accused as neo-Baathists.