BAGHDAD: A new law passed by Iraq's parliament allowing ex-officials of Saddam Hussein's Baath party to return to public life was greeted warily on Sunday by those it is supposed to benefit.

The Justice and Accountability Law was passed unanimously by the 143 members of parliament present in the 275-member house on Saturday after months of obstruction.

But senior Baathists were skeptical that it would bring reconciliation and feared instead they would be newly targeted by the Shia-led regime.

“Anyone can now take revenge against a Baathist by filing a false lawsuit,” said Abu Ali, 58, a high-ranking official of the former Baath party.

Fallah Hassan Shanshal, MP for Sadr City and head of parliament's de-Baathification committee, said while allowing Baathists not guilty of crimes back into public life, the law also ensured that those suspected of crimes would be hunted down and punished.“This law first and foremost will ensure that the Baath criminals will pay for their crimes and be held responsible for their actions,” he said.—AFP