"The bottom line is that the Iraqis need to get down to work. The things that were functional as appendages of the Baath regime we'll keep in place, for example the distribution of food in the oil-for-food programme," Brigadier General Vincent Brooks said.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in late March to allow the resumption of humanitarian aid for Iraq through its oil-for-food programme, under which Iraq can sell oil to buy certain basic supplies.

"I would not say that we have a set cut-off line as to who (in the Baath party) is okay and who is not," Brooks told reporters at US Central Command's war base here.

For example, "some of the port workers may have been paid by the Baath party. We need to get them back to work to run the port; they will not be paid by the Baath party any more.

"We certainly know that anyone who has been in the top 55 (the Baath leadership) would not be acceptable for any service in the future," he added.

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