Major news. H/t Weasel Zippers. The head of the now-banned Baath Party, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, has decided to sever ties with al-Qaeda, and help the Iraqi government and US fight the terrorist group.

Baghdad, 22 August (AKI) – The leader of Iraq’s banned Baath party, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, has decided to join efforts by the Iraqi authorities to fight al-Qaeda, one of the party’s former top officials, Abu Wisam al-Jashaami, told pan-Arab daily Al Hayat.”AlDouri has decided to sever ties with al-Qaeda and sign up to the programme of the national resistance, which includes routing Islamist terrorists and opening up dialogue with the Baghdad government and foreign forces,” al-Jashaami said.

Al-Douri has decided to deal directly with US forces in Iraq, according to al-Jashaami. He figures in the 55-card deck of “most wanted” officials from the former Iraqi regime issued by the US government.

In return, for cooperating in the fight against al-Qaeda, al-Douri has asked for guarantees over his men’s safety and for an end to Iraqi army attacks on his militias.

Recent weeks have seen a first step in this direction, when Baathist fighters cooperated with Iraqi government forces in hunting down al-Qaeda operatives in the volatile Diyala province and in several districts of the capital, Baghadad.

Could be very good news. These would be just the latest former enemies to join in our fight against al-Qaeda. Just a few months ago, the former Baath Party members were helping insurgents carry out attacks against our troops. Now, they’re helping stop the insurgents.