Baghdad: Iraq says 20,000 Saddam Hussain-era army officers will rejoin the military after being dismissed from their posts after the 2003 US-led invasion for serving under the former dictator.
Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammad Al Askari said Friday the reinstatement will begin immediately.
The move comes just over a week before national elections the US hopes will help bring together Iraq's rival religious factions.
Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and other Shiite politicians have been criticised for unfairly targeting former members of Saddam's ruling Baath Party.
Rival Sunni lawmaker Maysoun Damlouji says the reinstatement is a blatant ploy by Al Maliki to win more votes on March 7.
