lucky wilbury
12-14-2004, 12:40 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/12/14/iraq.trials/index.html
PM: Iraq trials to open next week
Tuesday, December 14, 2004 Posted: 9:45 AM EST (1445 GMT)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Trials of some of Iraq's former Baath Party leaders will begin next week, interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has said.
Allawi, speaking to the country's National Council on Tuesday, did not say precisely who would be facing trial or whether former president Saddam Hussein would be among them.
"With confidence, we can say that next week the trials of these individuals will start, and the people's justice will be served," Allawi said.
Saddam and 11 high-profile members of his regime first appeared in an Iraqi court in July 2004 on war crimes charges. Most have been in jail for more than a year, with few of them being able to meet their lawyers.
Saddam's Jordan-based lawyers say they have never been able to meet the former dictator, who was captured near Tikrit just over a year ago, on December 13, 2003.
Iraqi officials have given conflicting accounts about when the trials before the Iraqi Special Tribunal would begin. They have suggested that Saddam would not be tried first.
Doubts have been raised about whether the proceedings could begin soon because legal teams on both sides need sufficient time to build their cases.
Saddam aides currently in jail include former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz, who often defended the regime internationally, and Ali Hassan al-Majid, dubbed "Chemical Ali" for his alleged role in the use of chemical weapons on Iraqi civilians.
Two of Saddam's half-brothers also are in the group, along with his vice president, defense minister and presidential secretary.
Allawi also announced Tuesday that a former top Saddam aide, Izzi-Din Mohammed Hassan al-Majid, the deposed leader's cousin, had been arrested in Falluja, The Associated Press reported.
Al-Majid is believed to have fled Iraq in 1995, reports say. Allawi said he would be tried as soon as possible.
The announcement about the trials was made on the same day Allawi's office confirmed that on Wednesday he would announce a coalition list to vie for seats in the transitional national assembly election on January 30.
Allawi will pursue a seat in the coalition, which will be comprised of his Iraqi National Accord and other parties.
PM: Iraq trials to open next week
Tuesday, December 14, 2004 Posted: 9:45 AM EST (1445 GMT)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Trials of some of Iraq's former Baath Party leaders will begin next week, interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has said.
Allawi, speaking to the country's National Council on Tuesday, did not say precisely who would be facing trial or whether former president Saddam Hussein would be among them.
"With confidence, we can say that next week the trials of these individuals will start, and the people's justice will be served," Allawi said.
Saddam and 11 high-profile members of his regime first appeared in an Iraqi court in July 2004 on war crimes charges. Most have been in jail for more than a year, with few of them being able to meet their lawyers.
Saddam's Jordan-based lawyers say they have never been able to meet the former dictator, who was captured near Tikrit just over a year ago, on December 13, 2003.
Iraqi officials have given conflicting accounts about when the trials before the Iraqi Special Tribunal would begin. They have suggested that Saddam would not be tried first.
Doubts have been raised about whether the proceedings could begin soon because legal teams on both sides need sufficient time to build their cases.
Saddam aides currently in jail include former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz, who often defended the regime internationally, and Ali Hassan al-Majid, dubbed "Chemical Ali" for his alleged role in the use of chemical weapons on Iraqi civilians.
Two of Saddam's half-brothers also are in the group, along with his vice president, defense minister and presidential secretary.
Allawi also announced Tuesday that a former top Saddam aide, Izzi-Din Mohammed Hassan al-Majid, the deposed leader's cousin, had been arrested in Falluja, The Associated Press reported.
Al-Majid is believed to have fled Iraq in 1995, reports say. Allawi said he would be tried as soon as possible.
The announcement about the trials was made on the same day Allawi's office confirmed that on Wednesday he would announce a coalition list to vie for seats in the transitional national assembly election on January 30.
Allawi will pursue a seat in the coalition, which will be comprised of his Iraqi National Accord and other parties.