Shiite lawmaker uneasy over Baathist roles

BAGHDAD, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A Shiite lawmaker in the Iraqi government expressed concern over decisions by Baghdad to place ex-Baath Party officials in the national army.

Abdul Karim al-Enzi with the ruling United Iraqi Alliance coalition said the perception among his fellow party members was that Baath Party officials were agents of U.S. officials in Baghdad and would maintain loyalty to Washington, Tehran's al-Alam news agency reported Tuesday.

Enzi said there was mounting concern that members of the party of the former regime would threaten gains made in Iraq in political and security matters, noting Baathists may be more inclined to follow the advice of U.S. military generals rather than Iraqi government officials.

"Political parties, who are after creating a democratic Iraq, will be threatened in the new political atmosphere if the Baathist officers are to be re-employed to the army, and police," he said.

He expressed concern about what he perceived as undue influence on the Iraqi government, saying the new shape of Iraq should be left for the people in the upcoming provincial elections.

"Those people, who are employed to the country's new political atmosphere, are required to believe in Iraq's interests in the real sense of the word," the Shiite lawmaker said.

L. Paul Bremer, the former civilian administrator to Iraq, declared in 2004 that Baathists who were "innocent and competent" could take part in the new Iraq.