IRAQ: The Iraqi government has announced an amnesty for all Iraqi prisoners as a thank you to the nation for re-electing President Saddam Hussein.
A statement attributed to Saddam, read on national television by the Information Minister, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhafa, wearing a military-style uniform, said the "full and complete and final amnesty" applied to "anyone imprisoned or arrested for political or any other reason".
The announcement came as the Iraqi government attempted to rally domestic and international support in the face of US determination to topple it. Later, Iraqi television showed men leaving a prison carrying their belongings in plastic shopping bags and chanting: "We sacrifice our blood and souls for Saddam." Some prisoners were heard pledging not to commit any crimes in the future and others said they were "ready to defend Iraq and the great leader".
Those convicted of murder, the statement said, would only be released if the victims' families agreed and those convicted of theft would have to work out a way to repay their victims before being released. Soldiers accused of desertion and those under sentence of death were included.
"We are shifting the responsibility of reforming them to their families and society after we have provided them with this opportunity," the statement said. "We ask God that we will not regret this decision."
The amnesty was intended to thank the Iraqi people for their support of Saddam, who claimed a 100 per cent Yes vote in a presidential referendum last week, the statement said. "It's a unanimity that others are incapable of believing and it is the greatest truth of this age from this great, honest, warm people," the statement said. "The referendum honoured us before the whole world."
As the Information Minister completed his statement, Iraqi television switched to file footage of Iraqis celebrating Saddam's elections victory, chanting his name and pledges of support.
Iraqi exiles and the US scoffed at the referendum and the reported results. Saddam was the only candidate and Iraqis were asked to vote Yes or No on whether he should serve another seven-year term.
In a country where dissidents face torture or death, according to exiles and international human rights groups, assessing voters' sincerity is difficult.
Amnesty International accuses Iraq of holding tens of thousands of political prisoners and of torturing and executing its political opponents.
President Bush has called for Saddam to be toppled, accusing him of stockpiling weapons of mass destruction and harbouring terrorists. In a speech to the UN General Assembly making his case against Iraq, Mr Bush added concerns about Saddam's human rights record, saying: "If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will cease persecution of its civilian population."
The Iraqi regime had "probably the worst human rights situation anywhere in the world . . . uses the death penalty, rape and torture as a political tool," said the British government report on human rights abuses around the world released on Thursday. - (AP)