BAGHDAD, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Iraqis on Sunday rallied in Baghdad to protest the return of hundreds of barred candidates accused of alleged links to Saddam Hussein's regime to run in the country's parliamentary elections.
The protestors gathered outside the building of Baghdad Provincial Council raising banners saying "We demand the Prime Minister and the local government (Baghdad Provincial Council) to stand with the Iraqi people against the return of Baathists" and " No return to Baathists in new Iraq."
The demonstration apparently was organized by the Shiite leading parties, as the governor of Baghdad province who is a member of Maliki's Dawa party and lawmakers from the Shiite parliamentary alliance delivered speeches in the gathering.
Baghdad governor, Salah Abdul Razzaq, pledged to purge all Baathists, who are included in law of the Accountability and Justice Commission, from working in the government institutions.
"We will start a campaign to purge all Baathists who are included in the de-Batthification law from Baghdad institutions," Razzaq said, while the protestors chanting slogans against the Sunni secular politician Saleh al-Mutlaq who is one of hundreds of candidates due to return to jockeying in the March elections after an appeals panel appointed by the country's Higher Judicial Council ruled to put off the review of the cases of barred candidates till after the election.
Razzaq also said that he is looking forward to the parliament session later in the day to nullify the appeals panel decision and to support the Accountability and Justice Commission.
Abbas al-Baiyati, a Shiite lawmaker pledged that the Baath members will not come back to political life.
"We have heard your demands in banning Baathists and we will convey your demands to today's parliament session," Baiyati said, adding that "the appeals panel has acted beyond its mandate."
Originally, the appeals panel was formed at the request of the Iraqi parliament to look into the charges of hundreds of banned candidates accused of alleged ties to Saddam Hussein's regime, preventing them from taking part in the country's general elections.
The ban list, submitted early last month by the controversial Accountability and Justice Commission in charge of vetting the candidates, has the names of some prominent Sunni lawmakers including Saleh al-Mutlaq, head of the National Dialogue Front. The party joins with other secular parties to contest the election.
On Saturday, top Iraqi leaders met in Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki's office and agreed that the appeals panel should get the required details to look into the evidences of the charges against the barred candidates, providing that the panel will fulfil its mission in no later than the date of the elections campaign due on February 12. The Iraqi parliament will convene for an extra-ordinary session later in the day at the request of Maliki to discuss the appeals panel's decision of allowing hundreds of banned candidates from participation in the country's elections.
