[article] Iraq Government declares Martial Law.

mike65

from reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's interim government on Sunday declared a state of emergency for 60 days, the spokesman for interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi announced.

He said the state of emergency, equivalent to martial law, would apply to all of Iraq except the Kurdish north.

"The prime minister will give details in a news conference tomorrow," said spokesman Thaer al-Naqib.

The announcement came ahead of a widely expected U.S. offensive against the Sunni Muslim cities of Falluja and Ramadi, which the government says are nerve centers for an insurgency sweeping the country

Mike.

Memnoch

and martial law means what? its not like they are doing whatever they like in the country already?

Hobbes

It might have something to do all the police recently slaughtered in their own station. Sounds like total civil war over there.

Oh Martial Law generally means.
- Curfew (in your house before its dark)
- Limited travelling
- Automatic death sentance for some things (eg. looting)
- Military law, not civil law.

pete

Nobody declared "martial law". I would have though they pretty much have that already. Edit: unless nobody wants to actually come out and say "Martial Law".

Allawi declared a "state of emergency", with details to be announced on Monday. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_emergency - it can mean many things to many people.

(CNN) -- Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has declared a state of emergency for 60 days, his spokesman said on Sunday.

The emergency declaration excludes Iraqi regions run by Kurdish peoples in northern Iraq, and comes as U.S. and Iraqi forces prepare for an assault on insurgents in Falluja.

Government spokesman Thair Naqib, after making the announcement, did not offer details of the state of emergency, saying they would be announced Monday.

Naqib was asked whether the state of emergency was part of preparations for a Falluja operation.

"The Iraq government is serious in maintaining the security of the county, and also it is quite serious in its move toward the [January] general election, and any obstacles in this way will be removed by the government," Naqib said.

Naqib said Allawi declared the state of emergency after the failure of "all peaceful solutions" to the continuing violence in Iraq.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/11/07/iraq.main/index.html

pete

ahhh, my bad

Iraq passed the National Safety Law giving the government the power to impose a state of emergency in early July but it was not immediately implemented.

It was one of the first pieces of legislation passed by the interim government after it took over sovereignty from the U.S.-led occupation authority at the end of June.

Emergency laws have been in place in neighboring Syria for more than 40 years and in Egypt since 1981, drawing criticism from human rights groups who say the region's leaders have abused the legislation to curb freedoms.

Iraq's law gives the government the right to impose curfews, set up checkpoints, and search and detain subjects, provided they have a valid reason and present suspects before a judge within 24 hours.

The period of martial law can be extended with the written approval of Allawi and a presidential council at 30-day intervals, but would automatically expire if not extended.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=6735912