Abd Al-Aziz Al-Hakim, chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and leader of the (Shi'ite) United Coalition, has expressed his opposition to the return of the Ba'th Party, stating that it is today a major breeding ground for Al-Qaeda and other terror organizations.
He said that there should be a distinction between the Ba'th party and those who were forced to belong to it but who did not commit crimes against the Iraqi people.
Al-Hakim made his statements while Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki was acting for reconciliation with the Ba'th.
Source: Al-Sabah, Iraq, March 14, 2009
