Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi announced on Saturday that he had signed a long-expected amnesty law, under which Iraqis committing minor crimes would be pardoned.

The law offers amnesty for Iraqi insurgents who have carried out "minor crimes" such as possession of weapons and explosives, or who have intended to take part in attacks.

"This law is directed toward individuals who have committed minor crimes and have not yet been apprehended or prosecuted,"Allawi said in a press conference.

Acccording to the prime minister, the long-awaited amnesty law,which will last for 30 days, does not cover anyone who has killed other people.

The law has been in controversy since it was first proposed after the handover of sovereignty to Iraqis on June 28.

Early proposed drafts would have forgiven most people involved in the insurgency, but US officials expressed concerns with the possibility that those who killed American troops could be forgiven.