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Iraqi amnesty plan criticized in Capitol

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 26, 2006

WASHINGTON - Members of Congress on Sunday denounced any Iraqi plan that would grant amnesty to insurgents responsible for the deaths of U.S. troops.

Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has proposed extending amnesty to insurgents and opposition figures who have not been involved in terrorist activities.

Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said extending amnesty to anyone responsible for killing U.S. troops was "unconscionable."

"For heaven's sake, we liberated that country," Levin said on Fox News Sunday. "More than 2,500 Americans have given up their lives. The idea that they should even consider talking about amnesty for people who have killed people who liberated their country is unconscionable."

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that while he opposes amnesty, the United States must respect Iraq's sovereign right to decide its own future. He said the U.S. government will consult on the plan.

"I hope it comes out ... no amnesty for anyone who committed an act of violence, of war crimes," he said.

Maliki said Sunday that insurgent killers would not escape justice regardless of whether their victims were Iraqis or U.S.-led coalition forces.

"The launch of this national reconciliation initiative should not be read as a reward for the killers and criminals or acceptance of their actions," he said.

The White House welcomed the initiative but did not comment specifically on Iraqi plans to embrace certain insurgents.

"Reconciliation must be an Iraqi process, led by Iraqis," White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said. "We, of course, stand by, ready to assist in this effort - if the Iraqis request our help. But it's important to note that this is the first step, and it's a process that will take time to fully develop."

[Last modified June 26, 2006, 02:48:39]