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.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Flights Resumed
Iraqi Airways has now resumed flights to Turkey since sanctions were imposed in 1991, following Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.
Iraqi Airways is planning to operate two commercial flights a week between Baghdad and Istanbul.
The airline resumed international flights in September 2004 with a Baghdad-Amman service, after being grounded for 14 years.
It currently flies to Amman in Jordan, Damascus as well as the Iraqi cities of Arbil and Basra.
Small steps maybe, but important ones nonetheless.
Iraqi Airways is planning to operate two commercial flights a week between Baghdad and Istanbul.
The airline resumed international flights in September 2004 with a Baghdad-Amman service, after being grounded for 14 years.
It currently flies to Amman in Jordan, Damascus as well as the Iraqi cities of Arbil and Basra.
Small steps maybe, but important ones nonetheless.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
The Mother of All Mercs
First Sergeant William von Zehle has just shipped Saddam Hussein's Mercedes car to the USA.
The Connecticut soldier bought the car for about $5K, when he was serving in Baghdad. Much like the Batmobile, the car has one or two extras such as armour plating and flame throwers that shoot out the sides for crowd control.
Von Zehle says he did some research on the car, and found that just three of armoured 560 models were sold to the Iraqi government in 1988.
Von Zehle had the Mercedes shipped back home where it sits in his garage. He hasn't registered the car yet, and says it needs some work.
A broken front passenger window needs to be replaced. However, the bulletproof glass costs more than $14K.
The Connecticut soldier bought the car for about $5K, when he was serving in Baghdad. Much like the Batmobile, the car has one or two extras such as armour plating and flame throwers that shoot out the sides for crowd control.
Von Zehle says he did some research on the car, and found that just three of armoured 560 models were sold to the Iraqi government in 1988.
Von Zehle had the Mercedes shipped back home where it sits in his garage. He hasn't registered the car yet, and says it needs some work.
A broken front passenger window needs to be replaced. However, the bulletproof glass costs more than $14K.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Saddam Hussein's Lawyers Boycott Trial
Saddam Hussein's lawyers will not take part in legal proceedings, until the Iraqi tribunal acknowledges he was attacked in court and guarantees the safety of all defendants and attorneys.
That is at least the view of Khalil al-Dulaimi, a lawyer for Saddam.
The dispute centres over the alleged attack on Saddam last Thursday, when he attended court. Members of Saddam's defence team claim that he was attacked during the court appearance. However, the government and the Iraqi Special Tribunal said there had been no attack.
Khalil al-Dulaimi insists that the allegation is true, and demands that the government acknowledge it.
He also insists that the tribunal apologise, guarantee the safety of Saddam and other former regime figures, and punish the attacker.
He said Saddam's lawyers would stop attending any further proceedings "until our demands are met."
That is at least the view of Khalil al-Dulaimi, a lawyer for Saddam.
The dispute centres over the alleged attack on Saddam last Thursday, when he attended court. Members of Saddam's defence team claim that he was attacked during the court appearance. However, the government and the Iraqi Special Tribunal said there had been no attack.
Khalil al-Dulaimi insists that the allegation is true, and demands that the government acknowledge it.
He also insists that the tribunal apologise, guarantee the safety of Saddam and other former regime figures, and punish the attacker.
He said Saddam's lawyers would stop attending any further proceedings "until our demands are met."
Monday, August 01, 2005
Saddam Hussein's Trial To Start October
Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security adviser, said that he expects Saddam Hussein to go on trial before mid-October and said the trial would be shown on TV throughout the Arab world.
Mouwaffak al-Rubaie said that Iraqis would be able to see that Saddam has "gone into the past and gone with the wind."
He went on to say that he hoped that Saddam would be tried publicly, before the Iraqi Special Tribunal; before October 15, that is the day that Iraqis are to vote as to whether to ratify a new constitution.
He said Saddam would not be allowed "to give us his rhetorics and his speeches on his nonsense. We are going to concentrate on the criminal side of it."
Al-Rubaie concluded by saying that the Iraqis would conduct a fair trial:
"with a defence counsel in there, with a proper prosecuting counsel as well there, and everybody will watch this trial live on television."
Mouwaffak al-Rubaie said that Iraqis would be able to see that Saddam has "gone into the past and gone with the wind."
He went on to say that he hoped that Saddam would be tried publicly, before the Iraqi Special Tribunal; before October 15, that is the day that Iraqis are to vote as to whether to ratify a new constitution.
He said Saddam would not be allowed "to give us his rhetorics and his speeches on his nonsense. We are going to concentrate on the criminal side of it."
Al-Rubaie concluded by saying that the Iraqis would conduct a fair trial:
"with a defence counsel in there, with a proper prosecuting counsel as well there, and everybody will watch this trial live on television."
Saddam Hussein Attacked In Court
Defence lawyers for Saddam Hussein say that an unidentified man attacked the former dictator, during his appearance at a court hearing in Baghdad Thursday.
The legal team said in a statement on Saturday that the man attacked Saddam, as he stood to leave the courtroom, and the two exchanged blows.
It is not clear as to whether Saddam was hurt.
The statement said that the head of the tribunal did nothing to stop the assault.
The legal team said in a statement on Saturday that the man attacked Saddam, as he stood to leave the courtroom, and the two exchanged blows.
It is not clear as to whether Saddam was hurt.
The statement said that the head of the tribunal did nothing to stop the assault.
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