START THE CLOCK, PLEASE

I want to see how long it takes before this is cited as a reason by European nations to continue to not help Iraq to its feet.

Iraq's interim government has decided to reinstate the death penalty and offer an amnesty to Iraqis who do not have their countrymen's blood on their hands, President Ghazi al-Yawar has been quoted as saying.

Asharq al-Awsat newspaper said Yawar, speaking just after Monday's handover of sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government, also said Iraq will reinstate a 1960s "national security law".

The decisions were taken directly after Monday's ceremony and will be formally issued in the "near future", he said.

Yawar said the death penalty would be reinstated "but with rules which comply with the norms in most countries of the world". It would apply to a limited number of crimes including rape, kidnapping, murder and terrorism.

The death penalty was suspended by the U.S. ex-administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer.

Geez...ya gotta wonder of ol' Saddam is longing for the good ol' days when Mr. Bremer was in charge...heh, heh, heh.