The Washington Post is reporting that U.S. occupation authorities have allowed scores of Baath members to reclaim jobs including some of the most senior positions inside such ministries as trade, industry, oil, irrigation, health and education.

U.S. officials said the only Baath members automatically disqualified are the 55 senior officials in Hussein’s government deemed most wanted by the United States, as well as those believed to have been involved in human-rights violations or terrorism.

We go to Baghdad to speak with Democracy Now! producer Sharif Abdel Kouddous who just arrived in Iraq.

• Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Democracy Now! producer speaking from Baghdad.