The Hindu : International : `Saddam must be brought to justice'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 14, 2004

International

International

`Saddam must be brought to justice'

AMMAN, MAY 13. More than 80 lawmakers from eight countries neighbouring Iraq said in a statement on Thursday that former Iraqi officials, including Saddam Hussein, must be tried for `crimes' against the people of Iraq, Iran and Kuwait.

The communique was issued at the end of a two-day meeting of Parliament Speakers from countries neighbouring Iraq — Jordan, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait — as well as from Egypt and Bahrain.

``We confirm our support for all efforts to bring to justice all officials responsible for committing crimes against the peoples of Iraq, Iran and Kuwait, especially the leadership of the former Iraqi regimes, including Saddam Hussein,'' the lawmakers said.

The gathering was convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union to discuss ways to support Iraqis and restore security in post-war Iraq. Its recommendations are to be sent to Arab leaders gathering for their annual summit in Tunisia on May 22-23.

The English-language communique said the lawmakers ``expressed sympathy with the people of Iraq, who are enduring immense sufferings as a result of the continuing conflict that resulted from the occupation.''

It said Arab Parliamentarians were ``extremely concerned by the continuing insecurity and the escalation of violence and political instability.''

The five-page statement repeated a call for a broad-based Iraqi national conference to be convened under U.N. auspices this summer to discuss ways to overcome Iraqi troubles.

It said the Iraqi delegation must comprise a ``small number of reputable and distinguished Iraqis who are not seeking political office.''

The lawmakers also approved a proposal by the U.N. Secretary-General's special adviser, Lakhdar Brahimi, to put in place a caretaker Iraqi government comprising ``respected men and women of honesty, integrity and competence.''

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