US to hand over Saddam

2004-06-15 07:13

Doha - The United States will hand former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein over to the new Iraqi government for trial within two weeks, the country's interim prime minister Iyad Allawi said on the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television channel on Monday.

"The transfer of Saddam Hussein and the others (former Iraqi leaders now in detention) will take place within two weeks," said Allwai.

"Yes, Saddam and the others will be handed over to the Iraqi government. Their trial will begin as soon as possible, God willing."

If so, the former dictator would be out of US custody by the time that sovereignty is returned to Iraq on June 30.

In Washington, a senior State Department official said: "The issue of Saddam is something we are discussing. If the Iraqis want him, we're receptive to ideas to transfer him. But I am not aware of any plan that's been worked out on this.

"Still, if they're going to push on it, we are not going to push back."

Saddam has been in US custody in an undisclosed location since his capture on December 13, and is due to be tried along other members of his ousted regime by a special Iraqi tribunal.

He is likely to be tried for the persecution of the Shiite Marsh Arabs in southern Iraq in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as for alleged war crimes against Kuwait.

Iran is also believed to be preparing a formal complaint against him for the torture of Iranian prisoners captured during the 1980-1988 war.

A 20-member defence team appointed by Saddam's family has complained about not being able to meet its client and accused the US authorities of holding him in breach of the Geneva Conventions.

An ICRC spokesperson said that holding Saddam without charge after the transfer of power from the US-led coalition would be against international humanitarian law.

Ousted dictator Saddam must be freed or charged before the handover of power to Iraq's interim government on June 30, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

"If June 30 officially marks the end of the occupation, the coalition must free Saddam Hussein, who is a prisoner of war, unless he has already been charged before that date," said Nada Doumani.

- AFP