Saddam lawyers told to pick up his effects

Reuters ^ | 12/29/06 | Mariam Karouny

[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)

[sodpoodle]

Time to reflect on how lucky to be an American and compare the life of one President -Gerald Ford to that of Saddam Hussein.

Ironic that one was not "elected" and one was.

That says it all about our Republic and the wisdom of our Founding Fathers.

I'm going outside to kiss the earth.

sp

[bert]

.....why am i feeling this way?......

Stop feeling, start thinking.

[Joe 6-pack]

"I think Tolkein saw a lot of this coming... He was a very smart man..."

Indeed he was. His colleague and contemporary, CS Lewis, made even more explicit references to a moslem-like civilization in the Calormen race found throughout the "Chronicles of Narnia."

[TexKat]

Worshippers attend Friday prayers in the Shiite-populated Baghdad suburb of Sadr City. Iraq is nervously awaiting the execution of Saddam Hussein on, amid rumours that the hanging is imminent and fears it could trigger yet more violence in the bloodsoaked country.(AFP/Ahmad Al-Rubaye)

A U.S. Army soldier from the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment looks on before the start of a mission to monitor a mosque during Friday prayers in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Dec. 29, 2006. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment help dislodge a car whose driver slammed on its brakes and ran off the road when he saw their vehicles coming. The single-car mishap came following an U.S. Army mission to monitor a mosque during Friday prayers in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Dec. 29, 2006. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

[Krankor]

On Thursday, Saddam was allowed to see two of his half-brothers, who are also in detention at a U.S. base near Baghdad.

So would that count as one "whole" brother?

[bert]

There is no confusion on Saddam's whereabouts. The people who need to know, know.

There is total lack of knowledge by the press who wants to stop his execution. They have no need to know and don't know.

[Thermalseeker]

Ramsey Clark needs a gig.

Almost right. Ramsey Clark needs a gag....

[TomGuy]

Formerly Perky, Katie probably has a rush on her black outfit from the cleaners.

===
When the US troops entered Baghdad (April 14, 2003), Katie, in an exchange with Pentagon Correspondent Jim Miklaszewski, was so concerned about Saddam:

COURIC: Mik, we only have a few seconds left. But quickly, anymore information about Saddam Hussein's fate?

MIKLASZEWSKI: Not at all. Wild speculation. But U.S. officials insist they still don't know what happened when - after they bombed that site in western Baghdad earlier this week.

COURIC: So, they haven't been able to confirm reports he was taken to Tikrit, and then Mosul, and then hopefully to Syria.

MIKLASZEWSKI: That - that's very unlikely considering the kind of U.S. forces that are arrayed up there.

COURIC: OK, Mik. Thanks.

[TexKat]

Saddam May be Executed Over Weekend-UPDATE

December 29, 2006 08:55 AM EST

By Sher Zieve – Reports are surfacing that former Iraq President Saddam Hussein will be transferred from US to Iraqi authorities by the end of day on Friday for possible execution over this weekend. US authorities are also said to have contacted Hussein’s lawyers to transfer possession of Hussein’s personal effects.

The exact time of date of the dictator’s execution is still said to be a closely-guarded secret. However, one of Hussein's attorneys said it will likely be on Saturday.

Hussein was sentenced to be hanged and portions of his videotaped execution may be aired on Iraqi television.

UPDATE: A US military official confirmed to Fox News that Hussein will be transferred to Iraqi authorities on Friday.

[sodpoodle]

Ramsey Clark needs a gag..
___________________________________

You really should stop picking on fellow Americans who are exercising their freedom to DO ABSOLUTELY REPREHENSIBLE STUFF!

well, never mind - go right ahead

[dynoman]

Just being alive sometimes fills me with a deep sense of depression, and I am an optimist. The thing is re Saddam's hanging - in a perfect world it should not have to be done. It is a reminder of the horrible evils in this world, and that some people actually choose evil. The act of making Saddam pay for his evil becomes bigger than Saddam, and a reminder of all the evil men and their deliberate choice to do evil. It can be very depressing at times, especially to those of us who grew up and live in free countries, choose good, we are at a loss why our fellow human beings and their "leaders" don't choose to do the same.

[TexKat]

So would that count as one "whole" brother?

See post #43.

You are not original, lol!

[TN4Liberty]

"it is not unexpected that violent actions by jihadis will occur somewhere in the world."

Cindy, I generally agree, but I also wonder if the AQ factions haven't written Saddam off already. While the Bathists are still trying to flex their muscles with threats and bluster, AQ has been fairly quiet about this whole process. Since they are foriegn to Iraq, they don't really have a stake in Saddam as a leader. I think he was a useful idiot for them and they used him as much as anything to utiliize his country and capabilities to build their own power. Now that he can't help them, I think they may simply kick him to the curb. They don't seem the loyal type, and if they could do something to damage the west, they would be doing it already.

There is something out of character about deliberately and methodically killing another human being. Our culture finds that repugnant, even when it is justified.

[Atlantic Bridge]

They should simply eliminate him without too much noise about the way how to do it or the whereabout of his personal belongings. His life was already far too long.

[OldFriend]

If I had my way I'd throw him alive, feet first, into one of his infamous shredders!

[TexKat]

hopefully to Syria

Thanks for posting that. I have never paid even minute attention to Couric, but that statement (question) is an eye opener.

[OldFriend]

You do know there are chat rooms for your ruminating on navel lint!

[Krankor]

Uh, thanks. Were you the hall monitor as a kid?

[TexKat]

O'BRIEN: We begin, once again, in Iraq. Reports intensifying overnight about where Saddam Hussein is and how close he may be to execution. Iraqi officials denying that he has been transferred from U.S. to Iraqi custody. But "The New York Times" reporting Hussein could hang as early as tomorrow. CNN's Ryan Chilcote in Baghdad watching this for us.

Hello, Ryan.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.

An official from Iraq's justice ministry and now a U.S. military official are telling CNN that Saddam has not been transferred from U.S. custody, where he's been for the last three years, to Iraqi custody. That's important because that is one of the final steps, as we understand it, that must be taken before Saddam is executed. Both of those officials effectively denying earlier unconfirmed reports today that Saddam had been transferred into Iraqi custody.

Now we spoke with Saddam's chief defense attorney earlier today. He said he simply doesn't know. In fact, he says, he asked American officials, but they refused to answer that question. What they did tell him, he says, is that a member of Saddam's defense team can now go to the detention facility here in Baghdad where Saddam was held to pick up Saddam's personal belongings and the personal belongings of Saddam's half brother who was also condemned to death by the Iraqi high tribunal for crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, Iraqi state TV is quoting the Iraqi prime minister as saying there will be no reversal of the decision to execute Saddam and no delay.

Miles.

O'BRIEN: Ryan, will there be any videotape or pictures that will be released after the execution once it happens in order to prove that it has happened?

CHILCOTE: The Iraqi government isn't saying. That is a possibility that there would be videotape or photographs. There is a precedent for that. About a week and a half ago the Iraqi government did release some video of 13 men who had been condemned to death as they were walking into the gallows. That was widely seen as the Iraqi government testing the waters for doing that perhaps in the case of Saddam's hanging.

But the Iraqi government isn't saying. It is something that, obviously, we will be watching for. No word yet from the Iraqi government. Very few details, in fact, as to actually how they plan on carrying out this execution.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0612/29/ltm.02.html

[militant2]

10-4, buddy!

"HAPPY TO BE A MARTYR"

....and we're excited beyond belief to make you one!

Militant