'Security plan fails to protect rights'

Baghdad: Iraq's Sunni vice-president said yesterday the Baghdad security plan has so far failed to respect human rights and treat all groups equally, which he described as flaws that doomed the two major crackdowns in the capital last year.

Tariq Al Hashemi also said that the publicity that preceded the operation cost the authorities the element of surprise.

US officials have also said they believed many Shiite militiamen and Sunni insurgents left the city after President George W. Bush announced plans to send 21,500 US reinforcements, most of them to Baghdad.

The operation began on February 14.

During an interview Al Hashemi said he had not expected a marked improvement in security in the capital "simply because the requirements of the plan are not in place."

"Up to now, legal procedures have not been observed," he said.

"The human rights of Iraqis have not been respected as they should be. In this regard, this plan is being implemented in the same way the previous ones were. This is surely regrettable."