Iraq's cabinet has unveiled sweeping reforms to a law barring members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party from public life.
The amendment to the De-Baathification law still needs to be approved by parliament, where it is expected to face stiff opposition, but it is among a number of concessions to demonstrators who claim that Shi'ite officials unfairly target the Sunni community.
"This law (of De-Baathification) has excluded many talented people and prevented the country from (benefiting from) their services," Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlak said in a statement on Sunday.
Ministers approved a draft amendment that would allow Baath party branch chiefs to rejoin the public service.
Pension payments would also be provided for many members of the Fedayeen Saddam, a paramilitary organisation loyal to the late dictator.
The amendment would also put a time limit on the law, ensuring only names blacklisted by the end of 2013 would be restricted from public life.
"If you want to create a state, you need reconciliation," said independent Kurdish MP Mahmud Othman.
"Maybe the few people who have committed crimes, you take them to court. The rest, you should open the door to them."
