http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1089238210627&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724&tacodalogin=noBAGHDAD?Iraqis welcomed a sweeping new security law eerily reminiscent of the Saddam-era police state, saying that only by restoring law and order can their new government lay a foundation for the freedom and democracy they hope will follow. The six-page national security law announced yesterday outlines a crackdown on crime and insurgents replete with the powers to eavesdrop, intercept mail, impose curfews and closures and to search and detain suspects ? practices not seen since the fall of dictator Saddam Hussein 15 months ago.
The announcement was underscored by a surge in violence in Baghdad, where a four-volley series of mortar strikes landed in a residential area near the home of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. Pitched gun battles involving insurgents, fledgling Iraqi police and national guard troops followed. "We will soon reach a day when you can be safe inside your homes, in your streets, your employment situation will drastically improve and you will all be united without separation according to regions or religions," Allawi told reporters in the wake of the apparent assassination attempt. "However, for now we have a very important task ahead of us and that is to rid our country of these criminals and terrorists. Together we will succeed and we will prevail."
Allawi's interim government had twice postponed the announcement of the new law in order to accommodate U.S. and Iraqi concerns that
the appointed prime minister could use its powers to circumvent elections scheduled for January and remain in office indefinitely.
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Well, there it is folks. The US has now "appointed" the Iraqi ruler "indefinitely".