US 'keen to hand over Saddam'

2004-06-15 19:41

Baghdad United States President George W Bush is anxious to hand over Saddam Hussein, but Iraq must have adequate security guarantees in place before the government can take custody of him, said Iraq's interim president on Tuesday.

Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawer comments came amid intense speculation on whether Saddam would be handed over by the transfer of sovereignty on June 30 - or soon after.

The former Iraqi dictator has been in US custody in an undisclosed location since he was found last December, but his status has been under discussion as the US-led occupation's end approaches.

"Even President Bush himself was asking me," al-Yawer said in Baghdad after returning from the G8 summit on Sea Island, Georgia. "The United States is very keen to hand over the ex-president to the Iraqi authorities."

On Tuesday, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said the former Iraqi president and other detainees would be transferred to Iraqi authorities in the coming two weeks.

Allawi said Saddam would stand trial "as soon as possible", but gave no specific timeframe.

Saddam must have own fair chance of defence

However, al-Yawer cautioned that security precautions must exist in order for Iraq to be able to take custody.

"We must first make sure that we can maintain protection for his life until he goes to trial," said al-Yawer.

"We must make sure the trial goes as a legal process, he has his own fair chance of defence and the government has its own chance."

US officials have said they planned to continue to hold up to 5 000 prisoners deemed a threat to the coalition even after the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty at the end of this month.

They said as many as 1 400 detainees either would be released or transferred to Iraqi authorities.

The six-month old Iraqi special tribunal has struggled to put appropriate security safeguards in place.

War crimes experts have cautioned that as long as violence prevails in Iraq, the trial of Saddam and at least 100 others suspected of committing atrocities against the Iraqi people should wait - unless a foreign venue can be found.

Judges have refused to work for the tribunal after five potential candidates were killed since Saddam was toppled from power last year. Tens of millions of dollars have been spent on security alone.

- AP