Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi on 27 June elaborated on his offer of an amnesty to some of those who have resisted the US-led occupation. Writing in the London-based Independent on Sunday, Allawi said that his government 'will make a clear distinction between those Iraqis who have acted against the occupation out of a sense of desperation, and those foreign terrorist fundamentalists and criminals whose sole objective is to kill and maim innocent people and to see Iraq fall'. The aim, he writes, is 'to reach out to the former group in a national reconciliation effort and invite them to join us in a fresh start to build our country's future together, while at the same time isolating and defeating the latter groupWe are drawing up plans to provide amnesty to Iraqis who supported the so-called resistance without committing crime'. Allawi's government is due to assume sovereignty on 30 June, although there are indications that the date may be brought forward in light of security concerns.