HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Holy Najaf’s Al-Marajay Al-Ozzam (grand Ayaat) have opposed a draft law that would allow former members of Saddam's ruling Ba’ath Party to resume government positions.

Iraqi media reported Monday quoting government spokesman and the head of the committee dealing with the Ba’athists Ahmed Chalabi as saying that he had visited on Sunday Ayatullah Sayyed Ali As-Sistani, Ayatullah Sheikh Ishaq Al-Fayad, Ayatullah Hafez Sheikh Bashir An-Najafi and Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Said Al-Hakim in the holy city of Najaf on Sunday.

Chalabi discussed the draft law that would allow thousands of former Ba’ath Party members to regain their jobs or grant them pensions if they are denied jobs they once held in the government or military.

"The grand Ayaat said it is dangerous for the criminals to return to leading posts in the state," he said.

If As-Sistani and other top clerics in Najaf reject the draft law, it would be impossible to push through parliament.

President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki introduced the so-called "law of responsibility and justice" late last month. It still has to be approved by Cabinet and before it is sent to Parliament.