MP rejects reconciliation with Baathists

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: An Iraqi parliamentarian from the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) on Monday expressed his rejection of reconciliation with the dissolved Baath Party, saying “only the victims” are constitutionally and legitimately entitled to do so. “Before considering reconciliation, we have to compensate (the victims) and their families,” Aamer Thamir said in a press release received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “Only the victims have the constitutional and legitimate right to reconcile with the Baathists,” Thamir added. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had called on the Iraqi opposition to take part in the national reconciliation project, ruling out the possibility that the Baath Party could rejoin the political process. SS (P) 1