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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Date ’set’ for Saddam transfer |
| 2004-05-11 |
US-led forces will hand over Saddam Hussein to Iraqi authorities by 30 June, according to a top lawyer in charge of co-ordinating his trial. Salem Chalabi said 100 officials of the former regime, like Tariq Aziz and "Chemical" Ali Hasan Majid, would also be returned ahead of any tribunals. "They will be transferred to us before the transfer of power," he told reporters in Kuwait. The US-led coalition is to return sovereignty to Iraqis by 30 June. Mr Chalabi, who is in Kuwait to collect evidence against the detainees, said he hoped trials would begin early next year. "We will put 100 people... including Saddam Hussein, on trial," he said in remarks quoted by the Associated Press news agency. Iraq’s war-crimes tribunal has appointed judges and prosecutors, but no charges have yet been filed. The former Iraqi president is currently being held as a US prisoner of war. Correspondents say international law stipulates that a POW can only be handed over to a sovereign state that has signed up to the Geneva Conventions. Iraq only becomes sovereign on 1 July. ’Most wanted’ Saddam Hussein has been held at an undisclosed location since his capture by US forces in December and is being interrogated by the CIA and FBI. The International Red Cross has paid two humanitarian visits to check the conditions under which he is being held. Saddam Hussein was the Ace of Spades in the United States’ set of playing cards depicting "the most-wanted members of the former Iraqi regime". His cousin, Ali Hasan Majid, was known as "Chemical Ali" for his alleged role in the use of poison gas against Kurds in 1988. He had earlier been reported killed in a coalition air strike on his house in Basra. Former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz is accused by Indict - the committee that sought to prosecute the Iraqi leadership for war crimes - of complicity in war crimes against Iran, Kuwait and his own people. |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #3 There are alot of people who want to part out Sammy. Bring it all back home. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul in Wales, Alaska 2004-05-12 12:22:16 AM |
| #2 perhaps it's to get Sammy, et al talking? I would think they'd do anything to stay out of Iraqi/Kurdish/Shiite hands |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-12 12:06:39 AM |
| #1 Chalabi is talking out of turn again. US is saying no decision has been made yet. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-05-11 4:25:05 PM |