BAGHDAD, May 22: The US-led administration in Iraq on Thursday ordered around 200,000 members of the Baath Party to turn themselves in as part of a sweeping crackdown on the remnants of President Saddam Hussein’s government.

Iraqi radio broadcast an order in Arabic from US General Tommy Franks for all “full members” of the party to hand themselves over immediately, following up on a tough new policy on the Baath unveiled last week.

US overseer Paul Bremer had banned the top four ranks of the party, around 35,000 people in all, from holding government jobs but the order from Franks also extends to the fifth rank, adding more than 150,000 others.

Iraqi political groups working with the United States had been pressing US officials to get tough on the Baath amid widespread public fear they could claw their way back to power.

“The order is effective immediately from this announcement,” the radio said, adding that Iraqis should come up with any information they had about crimes of the former regime’s civilian and military officials.—AFP