An unnamed official involved in the forthcoming trial of Saddam Hussein has said that Saddam could be executed after his first trial, if he is convicted and sentenced to death for his alleged role in a 1982 Shiite massacre, even though he faces other charges.
The first trial involves Saddam's alleged role in the 1982 massacre of an estimated 150 Shiites in Dujail, north of Baghdad.
If Saddam is sentenced to death in the Dujail case authorities could "theoretically" carry out the sentence, without waiting for the other trials to begin.
The trial is expected to begin in the Autumn.
Friday, August 12, 2005
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Dispute Over Sacking
Following on from the earlier report about Saddam Hussein's family scaking his legal team, it seems that not everyone is prepared to take their dismissal lying down.
Emmanuel Ludot, a French lawyer who was part of the defence team, said that the sacking was contrary to Saddam's stated wishes.
Quote:
"The president himself expressed several times... his wish to keep a big committee around him, one that is as international as possible, to denounce the Americans' behaviour in his country,".
He went on to say that Saddam had made his position known during jail visits by his Iraqi lawyer, Khalil Dulaimi.
Ludot said he believed the decision was due to confusion in the family about lack of progress in the case, and the belief that "by limiting access to the dossier to a single lawyer, they will get a better hearing."
It was a "false analysis," he said.
Emmanuel Ludot, a French lawyer who was part of the defence team, said that the sacking was contrary to Saddam's stated wishes.
Quote:
"The president himself expressed several times... his wish to keep a big committee around him, one that is as international as possible, to denounce the Americans' behaviour in his country,".
He went on to say that Saddam had made his position known during jail visits by his Iraqi lawyer, Khalil Dulaimi.
Ludot said he believed the decision was due to confusion in the family about lack of progress in the case, and the belief that "by limiting access to the dossier to a single lawyer, they will get a better hearing."
It was a "false analysis," he said.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Tariq Aziz Not To Testify
Saddam Hussein's lieutenant, Tariq Aziz, will not testify against Saddam in any criminal trial according to his lawyer.
Aziz, who was Iraq's foreign minister and deputy foreign minister, issued a statement via his lawyer Badee Izzat Aref.
Quote:
"I will not betray my honor and my conscience and testify against Saddam Hussein,".
Aziz is in U.S. custody, and faces charges for his role in Saddam's regime.
Saddam's first trial is expected to begin within 45 to 50 days.
Aziz, who was Iraq's foreign minister and deputy foreign minister, issued a statement via his lawyer Badee Izzat Aref.
Quote:
"I will not betray my honor and my conscience and testify against Saddam Hussein,".
Aziz is in U.S. custody, and faces charges for his role in Saddam's regime.
Saddam's first trial is expected to begin within 45 to 50 days.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Saddam Sacks Lawyers
Saddam Hussein's family have dissolved his Jordan-based legal team, and have cancelled the power of attorney it had given to international lawyers.
Instead, Saddam's family have appointed Khalil Dulaimi as the "one and sole legal counsel."
Dulaimi has been part of the legal team for the past year, and has attended some of Saddam's initial court hearings in Baghdad.
The family is quoted as saying that they were "obliged to rearrange the legal defense campaign given the unique nature of the case,".
It seems that the family were upset by statements issued by various lawyers, and wanted only one legal voice to speak on Saddam's behalf.
However, Saddam's former chief lawyer Jordanian Ziad al-Khasawneh, who resigned on July 7, claimed that members of the legal team (ie the Americans) had criticised him for rebuking the American occupation of Iraq and declaring the resistance as "legitimate."
He went on to claim that the former U.S. attorney general, Ramsey Clark, had advised Raghad and other members of Saddam's family that such statements hurt Saddam's defense.
Saddam's legal team is quite sizeable, including 1,500 volunteers and at least 22 lead lawyers from several countries including; the United States, France, Jordan, Iraq and Libya.
Instead, Saddam's family have appointed Khalil Dulaimi as the "one and sole legal counsel."
Dulaimi has been part of the legal team for the past year, and has attended some of Saddam's initial court hearings in Baghdad.
The family is quoted as saying that they were "obliged to rearrange the legal defense campaign given the unique nature of the case,".
It seems that the family were upset by statements issued by various lawyers, and wanted only one legal voice to speak on Saddam's behalf.
However, Saddam's former chief lawyer Jordanian Ziad al-Khasawneh, who resigned on July 7, claimed that members of the legal team (ie the Americans) had criticised him for rebuking the American occupation of Iraq and declaring the resistance as "legitimate."
He went on to claim that the former U.S. attorney general, Ramsey Clark, had advised Raghad and other members of Saddam's family that such statements hurt Saddam's defense.
Saddam's legal team is quite sizeable, including 1,500 volunteers and at least 22 lead lawyers from several countries including; the United States, France, Jordan, Iraq and Libya.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Iraqi Government Sued for $1BN
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, an Italian bank, is suing the Iraqi government for $1BN.
The case, that is being heard in Fulton County Superior Court, is a bid to recover more than $1BN that the bank lent to Saddam Hussein's regime 15 years ago.
The loans originated in the Atlanta office of the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, and were the centre of the "Iraqgate" scandal; in which critics blamed the first Bush administration with arming Saddam's government in the late 1980s.
Although the Bush administration was exonerated of any wrongdoing, many still speculate over how the bank lent the Iraqis the money without the knowledge of their superiors in Rome or any high-ranking American officials.
The Justice Department accused the manager of the bank's Atlanta office, Christopher Drogoul, of organising illicit loans and defrauding the bank and the US government. A federal grand jury indicted Drogoul in 1991, along with some of his subordinates, a government owned Iraqi bank and five Iraqi officials.
Drogoul subsequently "copped a plea", and was sentenced to 37 months in prison.
The current case names as defendants the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Iraq, the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Iraq and the Central Bank of Iraq.
It seems a hell of a cheek to sue the current government of Iraq, who had no responsibility for loans granted to the previous administration.
The case, that is being heard in Fulton County Superior Court, is a bid to recover more than $1BN that the bank lent to Saddam Hussein's regime 15 years ago.
The loans originated in the Atlanta office of the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, and were the centre of the "Iraqgate" scandal; in which critics blamed the first Bush administration with arming Saddam's government in the late 1980s.
Although the Bush administration was exonerated of any wrongdoing, many still speculate over how the bank lent the Iraqis the money without the knowledge of their superiors in Rome or any high-ranking American officials.
The Justice Department accused the manager of the bank's Atlanta office, Christopher Drogoul, of organising illicit loans and defrauding the bank and the US government. A federal grand jury indicted Drogoul in 1991, along with some of his subordinates, a government owned Iraqi bank and five Iraqi officials.
Drogoul subsequently "copped a plea", and was sentenced to 37 months in prison.
The current case names as defendants the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Iraq, the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Iraq and the Central Bank of Iraq.
It seems a hell of a cheek to sue the current government of Iraq, who had no responsibility for loans granted to the previous administration.
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