Iraq's electoral commission has barred almost 500 candidates from contesting parliamentary elections in March.
A parliamentary committee that vets candidates says they had links with the outlawed Baath party, once led by Saddam Hussein.
They are believed to include prominent Sunni Arab politicians. The formal list of barred candidates has not been released.
There is a formal process through which barred candidates can appeal.
Some analysts have criticised both the parliamentary committee and the electoral commission for their closeness to Shi'ite religious parties.
The BBC reports the election on 7 March is regarded as a crucial test for Iraq's national reconciliation process. Many Sunni Arabs boycotted the last parliamentary election in 2005.
