Posted on 12/29/2006 2:39:42 AM PST by TexKat
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein's lawyers have been asked to pick up his personal effects but Iraq's Justice Ministry denied it had taken custody of the former president and dismissed a U.S. suggestion he would hang as early as Saturday.
One defense lawyer, who declined to be identified, said Saddam had been handed over by U.S. forces to Iraqi government custody. U.S. military spokesmen said they had nothing to add to a statement late on Thursday that he was still in their control.
Asked about comments from the defense lawyer that Saddam had been handed over, Deputy Justice Minister Bosho Ibrahim told Reuters: "This is not true. He is still with the Americans."
He also dismissed a remark by a senior U.S. official who said there were plans to send Saddam to the gallows as early as Saturday. The ministry, which is in charge of implementing court rulings, would not execute Saddam before January 26, he said.
Khalil al-Dulaimi, who led Saddam's defense team until he was sentenced on November 5, told Reuters: "The Americans called me and asked me to pick up the personal effects."
On Thursday, Saddam was allowed to see two of his half-brothers, who are also in detention at a U.S. base near Baghdad. A lawyer said the former president was in high spirits.
U.S. military and embassy spokesmen dealing with the issue said they had nothing to add to a statement late on Thursday which said Saddam was still in U.S. custody and stressed the need for secrecy over arrangements for security reasons.
Although legally in Iraqi custody, U.S. troops physically keep guard over Saddam. And although Iraqis will carry out the execution, U.S. and Iraqi officials say, it seems likely U.S. forces will stay on hand throughout for fear that opponents of the former leader could turn it into a public spectacle.
Iraqi officials backed away on Thursday from suggestions they would definitely hang him within a month, in line with a 30-deadline set out in the statues of the tribunal. A cabinet minister told Reuters a week-long religious holiday ending only on January 7 would stall any execution.
HAPPY TO BE A MARTYR
Saddam's lawyer said he bade farewell to two of his half brothers on Thursday in a rare prison meeting.
"He was in very high spirits and clearly readying himself," Badie Aref, a defense lawyer, told Reuters after the 69-year-old former leader met half-brothers Watban and Sabawi, who are also both held at the U.S. army's Camp Cropper near Baghdad airport.
"He told them he was happy he would meet his death at the hands of his enemies and be a martyr, not just languish in jail.
The novelty of the U.S.-sponsored process by which Saddam and his third half-brother Barzan, along with another senior member of the Baath party, were condemned on November 5 has left considerable room for wrangling over the timing of any execution among rival factions and between Washington and Baghdad.
"It's none of the Americans' business to decide when," one justice ministry official said on Friday.
Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had previously said he wanted Saddam hanged this year for the killings, torture and other crimes against fellow Shi'ites in the town of Dujail.
But some of Saddam's fellow Sunnis have warned this could reinforce their community's alienation and many ethnic Kurds want Saddam first convicted of genocide against them in a second trial that is still underway.
Saddam is due back in court in that trial on January 8.
Iraq's Saddam-era penal code bars executions on religious holidays. Eid al-Adha holiday, which follows the annual haj pilgrimage to Mecca, runs until January 7 in Iraq.
Nonetheless, the U.S. official in the United States said Saddam could be hanged within days: "I've heard that it's going to be a couple more days, probably."
(Additional reporting by Suleiman al-Khalidi in Dubai, Ibon Villelabeitia in Baghdad)
I agree. The liberals and apologists worry about "offending" the Muslim street too much. Lets get it on now!
Uh, not even close.
I was only sent to the hall after making stink bombs in chemistry and releasing them in geometry, lol!
any predictions??
Ohio State 37, Florida 17. Sorry, only thing I could think of quickly!
Are you generally against the death penalty?
While the real enemy, the mullahs and Islamic radicals run amok, we hang a washed-up old man whose power base has been completely ruined and who is now utterly and completely irrelevant to what is happening in Iraq and the Middle East.
This is a total farce. A burlesque sideshow. Saddam is nothing more than a footnote to the Islamic terrorists we've unleashed in Iraq and his execution will do nothing to change this. According to CNN, 100 Americans have died in Iraq this month making it the worst month for casualties since the invasion.
The execution of Saddam in the midst of this chaos throws into high relief the misguidedness of our whole Iraqi campaign and the stupidity of our pursuit of this man. OK.....we've captured him and killed him.
Y'all feel safer now?
16. Charles Mathuron COURIC was born on 24 Nov 1817 in Laurient, France.4 and died on 19 May 1861 in Eufaula, Barbour Co., Ala.4 He married Henrietta Francoise Farier DOUTRE about 1839 in Eufaula, Barbour Co., Ala. and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Eufaula, Barbour Co., Ala.4
17. Henrietta Francoise Farier DOUTRE was born on 10 Aug 1805 in Saintes, France.4 and died on 22 Nov 1873 in Eufaula, Barbour Co., Ala.4 She is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Eufaula, Barbour Co., Ala.4
She's French - what did you expect?
Latest news via FoxNews reporter:
Saddam has not yet been turned over to Iraqi officials. It should happen soon, however.
Hanging could take place at any time -- could be imminent.
I'll venture to say that Saddam will be swinging within a half-hour of that transfer
There is no "imprisoned for life" in the Muslim world.
There is only "imprisoned until an administration finds it convenient to release".
The only way to be sure of his punishment, is to carry it out while he's still under US physical control
That shouldn't be a factor in carrying out justice. Caving into such intimidation will just lead to more threats and a deterioration of the rule of law. It wouldn't bother me in the slightest if there were mass suicides, but I seriously doubt that would occur. Retribution is another matter, but the enemy will continue to try to kill us regardless.
I have deep, nagging feelings about his execution too. I want them to hurry & get it over with, but I have several concerns. One is that I'm not sure I trust the Iraqis to actually keep him in custody until his hanging - I'm afraid there are forces on the inside that will help him escape.
Secondly, possibly your sense of foreboding is what may happen after news of his execution comes public. Right now, they have that pilgrimage thingy going on where there are thousands of fervently devout muslims all crowded in one place. Something like this could set them off & something horrible could happen (although I say, 'have at it' - as long as it is muslims killing muslims).
But maybe your concerns are that attacks will be set off & many of us in the West will be murdered and general mayhem will ensue. That is a valid concern. There is also the possibility that the middle eastern peoples will just shrug & say - "he really deserved it".
I think, if he is already executed - they may be holding onto that news until it "cools down" a bit & maybe until this holy pilgrimage event ends. That may be wise.
And then the US will avenge whatever the Sunnis do.
Khoumani was kept alive in France - then returned to Persia to create the mess we call Iran.
He should have been dispensed!
Same thing with Saddam - as long as he lives he will have evil influence over his fanatics.
Spain opposes Saddam hanging out of principle
Why Saddam Hussein should not hang
Precisely, I agree with you absolutely.
I was simply addressing the fear factor.
Now I must address my chores for the day;)
sp
He's had a huge influence on the region, exerting dictatorial control for decades, and he still has his backers.
I think what you're feeling is simple fear. Sometimes it takes guts to do what needs to be done.
And yes, negative consequences are possible. But it's not like our enemies aren't already doing almost all they can to destroy us, our children and our entire way of life.
You can't be soft with evil, because if you are, evil will surely take every opportunity to establish absolute dominance over you. If given the opportunity, Saddam would have ruled Canada with an iron fist. Evil men know no bounds in their ambitions.
Yes, as a matter of fact. And so do a few million Shiites.
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