Saddam: I want a Swedish jail

2004-08-04 14:00

Stockholm - Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein apparently wants to be transferred to a Swedish jail to await his trial, media reports said on Wednesday.

The Stockholm tabloid Aftonbladet's online edition quoted Giovanni Di Stefano, a member of Saddam's defence team, as saying, "Sweden is one of three countries where Saddam Hussein could await the trial, if there is one."

Austria and Switzerland were other options that Di Stefano mentioned, echoing a similar statement last month.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anders Norman said that he had no information about a letter with an application on Saddam Hussein's behalf.

An official at the government's central registrar, which registers incoming mail to the government, also said there was no record of such a letter.

In the interview, the British-based Di Stefano claimed again that a trial against the former Iraqi leader was doubtful since he had immunity as head of state.

Saddam was taken into custody by United States forces in December 2003. At the end of June he was handed over to the Iraqi interim government ahead of his trial by a special tribunal. - DPA

- SAPA