BAGHDAD, July 7: Iraq's interim government on Wednesday granted Prime Minister Iyad Allawi far-reaching powers to declare emergency law as guerillas fired mortars near his home and a gunbattle killed two national guardsmen in Baghdad.
Mr Allawi vowed to defeat "foreign criminals" after five people were wounded in the mortar assault and another 21 were hurt in the gunbattle. The "national safety law" gives Mr Allawi the right to impose curfews, arrest suspects, ban groups and declare martial law in a bid to end the resistance.
The government defended the measure as a vital response to the "violent campaign", but claimed there were checks on Mr Allawi's powers. According to a copy of the text, the premier has the right to declare an emergency in "any area of Iraq where people face a threat to the lives of its citizens because of some people's permanent violent campaign to prevent the creation of a government that represents all Iraqis".
The state of emergency cannot exceed 60 days and must be dissolved as soon as the danger has ended. However, it can be renewed every 30 days, with the approval of the prime minister, the president and vice presidents.
The law also grants Mr Allawi the right to ask judges to issue arrest warrants and impose restrictions on the movement of foreigners. In addition, it gives the government the right to open mail and tap telephones, ban political groups, cancel meetings and bar street protests.
Curfews could be imposed for limited periods of time in limited areas, but would require an endorsement from the cabinet, the president and his deputies. Justice Minister Malik Dohan al Hassan and Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin defended the measures, aware that the steps echoed authoritarian rule in Iraq's not too distant past.
"The lives of the Iraqi people are endangered by evil forces, by terrorists and gangs," Mr Hassan said. Mr Amin vowed to monitor the implementation of the law for any potential abuses and said he had "full license" from Mr Allawi to monitor and investigate any violations to the law.
The government is further expected to announce an amnesty for supporters of the resistance not directly involved in pulling the triggers in attacks. It is banking that an amnesty for low-level fighters will drive a wedge into the resistance, isolating hardcore members of the old government and suspected foreign fighters from the general population. Just hours before the text was made public, guerillas fired four mortars near Mr Allawi's home, wounding at least five people.
GUNBATTLE: Elsewhere in Baghdad, a blazing gunbattle broke out as guerillas shot at Iraqi national guards and US soldiers, supported by helicopters, just before the announcement of new security laws.
Two national guards were killed and 21 wounded, 19 of them guardsmen and the other two police, officials said. The US military said four marines were killed in action on Tuesday in the Al Anbar province, taking its death toll in the volatile region to 14 in just over one week. -AFP
