Maliki speech: Excerpts

Mr Maliki says his plan will help end the suffering experienced by Iraqis

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki unveiled his national reconciliation plan on Sunday in an address to parliament in Baghdad.

Introducing details of the 24-point plan, Mr Maliki said he wanted to put an end to the "ugly picture" of life in Iraq.

Here are excerpts from his speech, broadcast live on Iraqi television.

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The divisions caused by the terrorists... and Saddamists have become big and serious. The results which Iraq and its people have secured thanks to the fall of the dictatorship have lost their value and thus deprived Iraqis of their joy.

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Religious scholars, the messengers of peace to mankind, are being killed... University professors are also being targeted by the murderers. Scores have been assassinated, thereby emptying the country of its educational and cultural assets. Children, women and the elderly, as well as workers, wage-earners, peasants and all sectors of the population, are easy targets for those criminals who have no mercy on people.

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We must confront... terrorism with mechanisms that combine force, firmness and resolve, and open the door of dialogue and reconciliation to whoever wishes to join the political process to build his homeland and save his people, unless he has committed a murder or sabotage crime.

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The launching of the initiative of reconciliation and national dialogue must not be understood to mean honouring and accepting murderers and criminals... There will be no peace with these people until they are punished for their criminal acts by means of fair justice.

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The government programme has become clear. There is no distinction in it between one Iraqi and another. The differentiation between Iraqis is now on the basis of whoever gives the most and best to his people and homeland.

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To those who seek construction and revision, we extend a hand that carries a green olive branch so that we can join our hands in building our country. To those who insist on aggression, terrorism and murder, we extend a hand that carries a firm legal stand to protect our country and people from any tampering by criminals.

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