Iraqi officials ponder use of harsh Saddam-era laws

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BAGHDAD -- Iraq's interim government yesterday said it was considering reviving emergency martial law powers from the Saddam Hussein era to combat a wave of violence that has killed nearly 200 people and paralyzed oil exports.

Malik Dohan al-Hassan, justice minister in the caretaker Iraqi government, said authorities may resort to "exceptional" laws imposed by the former dictator after it takes power on June 30.

"The idea of imposing exceptional laws is under study," he said, adding that there were no legal hurdles.

Defense Minister Hazem Shalan al-Khuzaei and Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib also warned that the new government may impose martial law to control what Mr. al-Naqib called "terrorist acts" after 41 persons were killed in two car bombings Thursday.

Such a move would be welcome by Col. Haydar Abdul Rasool, an officer in the fledgling Iraqi Civil Defense Corps.

Given the country's mounting security woes, Col. Rasool said he would recommend closing the nation's borders and giving police and soldiers a much freer hand to deal with wrongdoers on the street.

If Iraqi leaders follow through with the martial law idea, he just might get his way.

"Right now we can only open fire on people if they threaten us," the burly commander of 1,300 soldiers said in an interview. "We should have more freedom to act. We must have more brutal laws. The American laws are weak laws."

After a grisly month in which terrorists set off 17 car bombs in 18 days, Iraqi leaders are publicly pondering the idea of imposing harsh measures to combat a wave of lawlessness and violence.

Since the toppling of Saddam last year, Iraqi officials have been eager to take more authority over the country's security from the U.S.-led occupation force, which is set to hand control of the country to Iraqis on June 30.