Former Iraqi Prime Minister, Ayad Allawi demanded that all Baathist who committed crimes against the Iraqi people during the rule of Saddam Hussein should be punished. He stressed that it is important that they be tried before Iraqi courts. Allawi told Asharq Al-Awsat in Amman that "there are Baathist who committed murder, persecution and torture against Iraqi citizens. They should be brought to justice before Iraqi courts to get their just punishment." The former head of the Iraqi Government suggested that a committee should be formed to follow up the Baathist who harmed Iraqi people so that the Iraqi people would feel justice has been done. Allawi questioned the outcomes of the present Supreme Debathification Commission saying, "one of the first duties of this commission should be to follow up the Baathist who committed crimes against the Iraqi people because they were trying to support and keep an unjust regime in power." He indicated that the Commission should seek facts and to build on facts and should listen to the eyewitnesses. Their work should not turn into haphazard acts of vendetta. They should allow the Iraqi justice to assume its active role in building its just institution. Allawi called for the formation of a legal committee that would seek facts, listen to eyewitnesses and bring the Baathist who committed crimes to justice.