BAGHDAD — In an overture to Sunnis, Iraq's prime minister called on Iraqis on Friday to reconcile with former supporters of Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated regime who have been shunned by the Shiite government that rose to power after the U.S. invasion.
The call by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, made in a speech to leaders of a Shiite tribe, appears aimed at making political inroads in Sunni areas that gave his allies little support in the Jan. 31 provincial elections.
"We should reconcile with those who made mistakes, who are forced and obliged at one time to be on the side of the former regime during a time of hardship in Iraq's history," al-Maliki said. "We must reconcile but on condition that they turn back to Iraq, and turn the dark page of Iraq's past history."
Al-Maliki, who had a reputation as a Shiite hard-liner when he came to power in 2006, said it was time "to let go what happened" in the past.
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Many Shiites suffered under Saddam and resent moves toward reconciliation with supporters of the old regime.
Sunni politicians welcomed al-Maliki's remarks as a good beginning toward reconciliation but said they wanted tangible steps — including amnesty for insurgents and abolition of laws that ban thousands of Baathists from holding elected office and government jobs.
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US toll in iraq
•Deaths: 4,255
•Wounded: 31,102
Latest identifications:
Pfc. Jessica Y. Sarandrea, 22, of Miami, Fla.; assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Sgt. Jeffrey A. Reed, 23, of Chesterfield, Va.; assigned to the 411th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.
Source: Department of Defense.
