The Trial of Saddam Hussein and The Fallout of The War

The Trial of Saddam Hussein

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The fallout in the Middle East from the regime change in Iraq

Friday, November 10, 2006

Verdict Timing "Suspect"

The row over the delay in delivering the verdict on Saddam Hussein's first trial, to the 5th of November (two days before the US midterms), won't go away.

The former British Foreign Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, has accused the US of delaying the verdict deliberately to coincide with the midterms.

He was speaking on the BBC show "Question Time", and said that the timing of the verdict was "deeply suspect".

The White House claims that the accusations are "preposterous", saying that the Iraqi judges determined the timing.

The trouble is that justice must not just be done, but be seen to be done.

Sir Malcolm does not believe the US, and said that he believed the US told the Iraqi court to hold off until just before the US elections.

President Bush, before being given a "thumping" in the midterms, welcomed the verdict as a "milestone" in the efforts of the Iraqi people "to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law".

Downing Street has refused to comment on Sir Malcolm's "suspicions".

To repeat, justice must not just be done but be seen to be done. Where there is suspicion of political interference the justice system itself is brought into disrepute, and its decisions laid open to criticism.

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