New Iraqi Law Gives Allawi Broad Martial Powers

Emergency Security Measures in Iraq

• Give the interim Iraqi government power to declare martial law in areas where the insurgency is the strongest.

• Allow the government to impose curfews.

• Let the government search and cordon off disturbed areas.

• Allow the government to arrest and detain people.

• The orders can be in effect for 60 days at a time, but can be renewed.

• Permit the prime minister to assign governors and military officers to trouble spots.

• The prime minister must seek the Presidential Council's approval to impose the toughest measures.

• Human rights organizations, the Iraqi justice ministry and federal courts will be allowed to monitor how the emergency rules are administered, officials say.

Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi signs into law a measure that gives him broad powers of martial rule to fight the ongoing insurgency. Under the law's provisions, Allawi can declare emergency rule and impose curfews in any part of the country threatened by instability. Hear NPR's Renee Montagne and NPR's Philip Reeves.

Iraqi Human Rights Minister Bakhityar Amin told reporters the measures could be applied wherever there is a major threat to national institutions, national security or where there were wide-ranging disturbances.

The deteriorating security situation -- including continuing attacks on the government, security forces and foreign contract workers -- made the new laws necessary, Justice Minister Malik Dohan al-Hassan said.

The government acknowledged that some individual liberties will be restricted, but officials stressed that the measures will be monitored by human rights organizations, the Iraqi justice ministry and the federal courts.