An Iraqi judicial panel has ruled that nine parliamentary election winners who were accused of having ties to the Baath party of Saddam Hussein, the former president, can take their seats in parliament.

The Justice and Accountability Commission, which has been behind the move to ban the politicians over their alleged ties, says it will respect the decision of the judiciary panel.

The commission has also said it will not seek to ban any further candidates from the disputed election, although the fate of nine others who could change the results appears to be unresolved.

However, it is not yet clear if these developments will bring an end to the current political impasse.

Is the de-baathification crisis in Iraq's election over?

Joining the programme are Mowaffak al-Rubaie, the secretary-general of the centrist movement, and Mustafa al-Hiti, a member of the Iraqi parliament.

This episode of Inside Iraq aired from Friday, May 21, 2010.