[NYTr] Campaign to liquidate Baathists in southern Iraq

[nytr at olm.blythe-systems.com]

sent by Steven L. Robinson (activ-l)

Azzaman - July 23, 2007
http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news/2007-07-23/kurd.htm

Campaign to liquidate 3,000 Baathists in southern Iraq

By Nidhal al-Laithi

Militias belonging to Shiite religious factions in southern Iraq have
embarked on a murderous campaign to liquidate 3,000 members of the Baath
party of former leader Saddam Hussein.

The campaign is reported to have terrorized residential quarters in
several cities in the south since scores of former Baathists have been
killed recently in the area.

Informed sources refusing to be named said the militias have 3,000 more
names on their 'liquidation lists' and many former Baathists are
reported to have gone into hiding.

The so-called policy of debaathification, started by the first U.S. Iraq
consul Paul Bremer, is believed to be one of the reasons behind current
violence and instability in the country.

Former Baathists were banned from assuming posts in the government or
employment in the public sector. Many had their property and belongings
expropriated.

As a result hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs and means of
living, fueling resentment and anger at U.S. occupation troops and the
government.

Analysts say the militias are keen to liquidate as many former
Baathists as possible before the parliament, under pressure from the
U.S., reverses measures that have led to their dismissal from
government jobs.