Saddam Hussein has had his request for his trial to be held in Sweden turned down.
Justice ministry director Ann Marie Bolin Pennegaard said:
"We have said 'no'..Sweden has no intention of filing a request to the competent authorities in Iraq for a transfer of Saddam Hussein to Sweden before his trial," .
Adding:
"Nor has Sweden considered the issue of establishing a seat of the Iraqi Special Tribunal in Sweden. It is also to be noted that there is no possibility under present Swedish legislation ... to let Saddam Hussein serve any possible sentence in a Swedish prison after his trial," .
According to reports Giovanni di Stefano, Saddam's attorney, will ask Iraq and the United Nations to file an official request for Sweden to accept Hussein before, during or after the trial.
He is quoted as saying:
"If Iraq or the UN sends a request to Sweden this could still happen. One couldn't stop an Egyptian ambassador from recently being kidnapped and murdered in Baghdad. And there is a war going on there, and how can one hold a trial when bombs are exploding outside the door?".
Adding:
"It is no longer just about Saddam Hussein getting a fair trial but also about him getting a safe trial,".
Pennegaard responded by saying:
"If completely new information comes to light we will of course have to evaluate this again,".
I doubt that the Iraqis would be too pleased to lose the chance of trying him in his own country. That being said, the situation there is hardly stable; prviding security for the trial will prove to be a major headache.
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