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Iraq to announce amnesty for anti-American insurgents
BAGHDAD, Jul 4, 2004 (Xinhua via COMTEX) --
The interim Iraqi government is likely to offer amnesty for Iraqi insurgents who have been engaged in fighting against US troops, al-Jazeera satellite channel reported on Sunday.
The measure has already been approved and would be announced on Sunday or Monday, a top government spokesman was quoted as saying.
The spokesman, Gurgis Sada, said, "This amnesty will be unveiled today or tomorrow by Minister of Justice Malik Dohan al- Hassan."
He said the government had come to the conclusion that many of Iraqi insurgents joined resistance simply because they had no means of living, had lost their job or were unemployed members of Iraq's old army.
Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said an amnesty would be declared for those who acted against the US-led occupation but commited no crimes.
"Those people, we will give them a pardon provided that they come forward, surrender the information and arms," Allawi said.
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