English

Hello 

Create Profile

Creating your profile will enable you to submit photos and stories to get published on News24.


Please provide a username for your profile page:

This username must be unique, cannot be edited and will be used in the URL to your profile page across the entire 24.com network.

Settings

Location Settings

News24 allows you to edit the display of certain components based on a location. If you wish to personalise the page based on your preferences, please select a location for each component and click "Submit" in order for the changes to take affect.









Facebook Sign-In

Hi News addict,

Join the News24 Community to be involved in breaking the news.

Log in with Facebook to comment and personalise news, weather and listings.

 
 

Saddam lawyers demand security

2005-11-10 10:53
line

Baghdad - Saddam Hussein's lawyer said on Wednesday that the United States-led "occupation forces" bear some of the responsibility for the slaying of a second colleague in the trial, and the defence team signalled it might not show up for the next session without international security guarantees.

Khalil al-Dulaimi, head of Saddam's legal team, spoke a day after Adel al-Zubeidi, lawyer for former vice-president Taha Yassin Ramadan died in a hail of gunfire in west Baghdad.

Thamir al-Khuzaie, attorney for another co-defendant, Saddam's half brother Barazan Ibrahim, was wounded.

The attack followed the slaying last month of another defence lawyer, Saadoun al-Janabi, whose body was found with gunshot wounds the day after the trial begun on October 19.

Dangerous circumstances

The killings raised doubts about Iraq's ability to try the case, although the Iraqi government dismissed calls to move the venue or halt the trial. The second session was set for November 28.

The defence team said it considered the November date "null and void" in the wake of the attacks because of "the very dangerous circumstances that prevent the presence" of the attorneys "unless there is a direct, neutral international intervention that guarantees" security.

After the death of the first team member, the defence lawyers announced they had suspended further dealings with the special court, trying their clients until their security was guaranteed.

The latest statement appeared to harden that position in wake of the latest killing.

US obliged to protect lawyers

Abdel-Haq Alani, a key co-ordinator on the defence team, said the US was obliged to protect the lawyers as "the occupying power", a status the Americans said they didn't have since sovereignty was transferred to the Iraqis on June 28 2004.

Asked whether defence lawyers would be in court on November 28, Alani replied: "I believe not."

There was no reaction from the court to the latest statement. But, officials had said that if defence lawyers refused to appear, the tribunal could appoint a new team.

Al-Dulaimi, speaking in the insurgent hotspot of Ramadi, brushed aside the government suggestions that pro-Saddam insurgents or religious extremists were behind the killings.

Preserving people's lives

He said: "The occupation forces are responsible for this criminal act, and they bear the responsibility of preserving the lives of the people, regardless of their identity."

The "Iraqi government also has the responsibility to protect people and put an end to such actions".

He called on "all free people, the United Nations, the Arab League, Arab presidents and kings and the Arab Bar Association to shoulder the responsibility to face the tyranny of the criminal gangs that are targeting the country".

President Jalal Talabani condemned the assassination and urged the defence team to accept the government protection.

- AP

Read News24’s Comments Policy

inside news24

 

140
1
1 of 10
 
Traffic
Lottery
 
  • Wednesday Ladysmith - 22:09 PM
    Road name: N11 Both Ways
    ROADWORK - two sets of stop / go controls just south of the R68 Dundee exit - expect waiting times of up to 20 minutes between Ladysmith and Newcastle (ends March 2013)
  • Saturday Pretoria - 08:07 AM
    Road name: N1 Both Ways
    ROADWORKS - lane closures on both carriageways for long term roadworks between the N4 Witbank Highway Interchange and the Zambesi Drive exit - EXPECT DELAYS (until Jan 2013)
 
More traffic reports...
 

Jobs [change area]

Project Manager

East London
Hire Resolve
R500000 - R550000

Operational Risk Manager (Basel 2)

Johannesburg, South Africa
Modis Professional Recruitment Services (Pty) Ltd
Market Related

Mechanical Engineer

Cape Town
Communicate Cape Town Engineering
R280000 - R350000

Cars[change area]

NISSAN

Sabre 160 GX 5-dr
1996
R 40,000.00

BMW

530d E60 AT Dsl
2007
R 439,995.00

VOLKSWAGEN

CitiGolf 1.4i 5-dr MY04
2007
R 72,995.00

Property [change area]

Vulintaba Country Estate, Upper Drakensberg

A lifestyle estate beyond compare. Home Package Options From R990 000

HOUSES FOR SALE IN Swellendam

Houses R 1 200 000

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Casa Rex, Vilanculos

Spend 5 nights in at the magical Mozambican resort of Casa Rex from R7983 per person sharing. Includes accommodation, return flights, taxes and transfers. Book now!

Kalahari.com - shop online today

Legos

Let your child construct his own fun with only his imagination limiting his creations. Buy now.

iPad

Update the way you socialize, work and play with the latest iPad models. Buy now.

Max Payne 3

Seeking Redemption from the past, Max hopes to enter his last fight and finally put his demons to rest. Buy now.

Sins of the Father

Foul play in New York City sets the tone. Boundaries pushed, Loyalties tested and secrets unravelled in Jeffrey Archer’s, Sins of the Father. Buy now.

Nikon Camera Range

Capture and preserve your life’s precious memories with the Nikon Camera Range. Buy now.

OLX Free Classifieds [change area]

pool table

For Sale, Toys - Games - Hobbies in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 6

Lexus: IS

Vehicles, Cars in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 7

stylish bachelor furnished in sandton from 1st of june

Real Estate, Houses - Apartments for Rent in South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg. Date May 7

Gobii eReader

Only R899.95

Affordable, compact & elegant there has never been a better time to start your ebook adventure than with the Gobii.

Visit www.kalahari.com for millions of books, music, DVDs, games & more!

Samsung Galaxy S II I9100

Vivid.Fast.Slim. Don’t contain yourself. Look beyond the limits of yesterday’s...

From R4299.00

I'm shopping for:

Horoscopes
Aquarius
Aquarius

For some or other reason, you’re feeling a bit more sensitive about how others see you at work today. Even though you’re such an...read more

There are new stories on the homepage. Click here to see them.