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Wednesday, Dec 27, 2006
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Death for Saddam upheld

"Execution within 30 days"

Saddam Hussein ... a file photo

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BAGHDAD: An Iraqi appeals court on Tuesday ruled that the former President, Saddam Hussein, should be hanged for crimes against humanity, upholding a trial court's verdict and death sentence, the country's national security adviser Mowaffaq al-Rubaie told Reuters.

The execution must follow the decision by the appeals court within 30 days, according to Iraqi High Tribunal rules.

Mr. Hussein, 69, his half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and a former judge, Awad al-Bander, were sentenced to death on November 5 for the killing of 148 Shias from the town of Dujail after Mr. Hussein escaped assassination there in 1982.

``The court just upheld the verdict and sentence,'' the national security adviser said. Asked if the court confirmed the November 5 verdict, court spokesman Raed Juhi said: ``Yes, I think so.''

He said he expected the tribunal head to make a statement soon.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said he wanted the execution before the year-end.

Criticism

His comment drew criticism from human rights groups for appearing to prejudge the ruling of the nine-member appellate chamber.

Earlier this year, Saddam's chief lawyer, Khalil al-Dulaimi, said that Mr. Hussein had been expecting a death sentence.

``Saddam Hussein is convinced of this,'' Mr. Dulaimi said. ``He knows the sentence has been issued from Washington, and if there's an even greater punishment than the death sentence, he'll get it.''

U.N. human rights experts have called on the Iraqi Government not to carry out the death sentence, saying Mr. Hussein's trial was seriously flawed.

In a separate trial, Mr. Hussein is facing charges of genocide against Kurds in a military campaign in the Kurdish north in the 1980s.

This trial will continue even if Mr. Hussein is executed because there are a number of co-defendants involved.

In a comprehensive report last month, the New York-based Human Rights Watch condemned the Dujail verdicts as unsound. The court had been guilty of so many shortcomings that a fair trial had been impossible, it said. The court lacked the expertise for such a complex trial, failed to give the defence advance notice of key documents, while statements from officials undermined its independence and perceived impartiality, it said.

Mr. Hussein's trial was marred by the murder of three defence counsel and the resignation of the first chief judge.

He had complained of government interference. — Agencies

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