Saddam asks U.S. to block execution

Twin Cities/AP ^ | 12/29/2006 | MATT APUZZO

[Hadean]

WASHINGTON - Lawyers for Saddam Hussein on Friday made a last-minute appeal to an American court to avert execution in Iraq, asking a judge to block his transfer from U.S. custody to the hands of Iraqi officials.

Hussein's lawyers filed documents Friday afternoon asking for an emergency restraining order aimed at stopping the U.S. government from relinquishing custody of the condemned former Iraqi leader to Iraqi officials, a spokeswoman for a federal court in Washington D.C. said.

The documents were being processed and were not immediately made public. The Justice Department had not yet responded to the request.

A similar request by the former chief justice of the Revolutionary Court, Awad Hamed al-Bandar, was denied Thursday and is under appeal. Al-Bandar also faces execution. The Justice Department argued in that case that U.S. courts have no jurisdiction to interfere with the judicial process of another country.

Al-Bandar argued that his trial violated his rights under the U.S. Constitution but Justice countered that foreigners being tried in foreign courts are not protected by the U.S. Constitution.

The appeals court did not indicate when it would rule on the issue.

[Lazamataz]

Um.

No.

[saganite]

Here we go.

[JmyBryan]

I think we need to start thinking about secession ...

[HarleyLady27]

Saddam has been in Iraqi custody since 2003, the only thing our troops are doing is making sure he stays alive....

His attorney will just have to ask his government for that request....we have nothing to do with it....

[Anti-Bubba182]

Shyster angle. No jurisdiction, no restraining order!

[ASA Vet]

To late, he was executed 32 minutes ago.

[rintense]

Did they ask the 9th Circus?????

[The Blitherer]

Judge should look him in the face and say very slowly and clearly, "Screw you".

[rjp2005]

I've just been thinking that perhaps the reason we are very quickly handing him over is so that there is no chance any very liberal Democrats would have a chance to stop it as the new session opens.

[ImAmericanFirst]

The lawyer's rather arrogant to think we can tell another democratic nation how to punish their killers

[b4its2late]

We should answer by FedExing him more rope!

[Red Badger]

Ya think?.......

[Lazamataz]

To late, he was executed 32 minutes ago.

Citation?

[beaversmom]

Really?

[AVNevis]

If this happens, the Iraqi government should simply declare war on the US to gain control of Saddam. We immediately surrender and give him up.

[Dallas59]

[Mo1]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

He's just too funny

No!

[Mr. Mojo]

Too late, he was executed 32 minutes ago.

Is it on YouTube yet?

[Vision]

Doesn't sound like the actions of a man "who will be hanged while smiling."