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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Mixed reactions to Saddam verdict | Mixed reactions to Saddam verdict |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US has hailed a ruling by an Iraq court that Saddam Hussein be executed within 30 days, while the EU has urged Baghdad not to carry out the sentence. | The US has hailed a ruling by an Iraq court that Saddam Hussein be executed within 30 days, while the EU has urged Baghdad not to carry out the sentence. |
| The former leader could be hanged on any day over the next four weeks, after an appeal against his execution failed. | The former leader could be hanged on any day over the next four weeks, after an appeal against his execution failed. |
| The sentence is for killings in the town of Dujail in 1982. He is on trial in a second case, but under Iraqi law the execution must go ahead regardless. | The sentence is for killings in the town of Dujail in 1982. He is on trial in a second case, but under Iraqi law the execution must go ahead regardless. |
| The time and location of the hanging has not been made public. | The time and location of the hanging has not been made public. |
| Correspondents say it may only be revealed after the former president is dead in order to avoid civil disruption and unrest. | Correspondents say it may only be revealed after the former president is dead in order to avoid civil disruption and unrest. |
| No further appeal | No further appeal |
| The White House called the ruling a landmark in Iraq's efforts "to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law". | The White House called the ruling a landmark in Iraq's efforts "to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law". |
| THE VERDICTS Saddam Hussein, former Iraqi president: found guilty and sentenced to deathBarzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Saddam Hussein's half-brother: found guilty and sentenced to deathAwad Hamed al-Bandar, Chief Judge of Revolutionary Court: found guilty and sentenced to deathTaha Yasin Ramadan, former Iraqi vice-president: found guilty and sentenced to life in jail Abdullah Kadhem Ruaid Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jailAbdullah Rawed Mizher, Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jailAli Daeem Ali, Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jail Mohammed Azawi Ali, Baath official: acquitted But a number of groups have complained about the legality of the proceedings, including US-based Human Rights Watch, which said the Iraqi government had undermined the credibility of the trial. | THE VERDICTS Saddam Hussein, former Iraqi president: found guilty and sentenced to deathBarzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Saddam Hussein's half-brother: found guilty and sentenced to deathAwad Hamed al-Bandar, Chief Judge of Revolutionary Court: found guilty and sentenced to deathTaha Yasin Ramadan, former Iraqi vice-president: found guilty and sentenced to life in jail Abdullah Kadhem Ruaid Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jailAbdullah Rawed Mizher, Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jailAli Daeem Ali, Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jail Mohammed Azawi Ali, Baath official: acquitted But a number of groups have complained about the legality of the proceedings, including US-based Human Rights Watch, which said the Iraqi government had undermined the credibility of the trial. |
| India meanwhile has urged clemency - expressing concern over any delay to the restoration of peace in Iraq, while the EU has called on Iraq not to carry out the death sentence. | India meanwhile has urged clemency - expressing concern over any delay to the restoration of peace in Iraq, while the EU has called on Iraq not to carry out the death sentence. |
| Appeals Court judge Arif Shaheen told a news conference in Baghdad the execution date could not "exceed 30 days". | Appeals Court judge Arif Shaheen told a news conference in Baghdad the execution date could not "exceed 30 days". |
| "As from [Wednesday] the sentence could be carried out at any time," he said, adding that there could be no further appeal and the sentence could not be commuted. | "As from [Wednesday] the sentence could be carried out at any time," he said, adding that there could be no further appeal and the sentence could not be commuted. |
| Saddam Hussein's defence lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said the court's verdict "was expected". | Saddam Hussein's defence lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said the court's verdict "was expected". |
| "We were not at all surprised, as we are convinced that this has been - 100% - a political trial," he said. | "We were not at all surprised, as we are convinced that this has been - 100% - a political trial," he said. |
| 'Too lenient' | |
| The Dujail case relates to killings that followed a failed assassination attempt against the then Iraqi leader in 1982. | The Dujail case relates to killings that followed a failed assassination attempt against the then Iraqi leader in 1982. |
| Saddam Hussein's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bandar were also sentenced to death. | Saddam Hussein's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bandar were also sentenced to death. |
| Former Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan was sentenced to life imprisonment and three others received 15-year prison terms. | Former Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan was sentenced to life imprisonment and three others received 15-year prison terms. |
| The appeals court said Ramadan's sentence was too lenient and returned it to the High Tribunal for consideration of the death penalty. | The appeals court said Ramadan's sentence was too lenient and returned it to the High Tribunal for consideration of the death penalty. |
| Another co-defendant, Baath party official Mohammed Azawi Ali, was acquitted. | Another co-defendant, Baath party official Mohammed Azawi Ali, was acquitted. |
| Saddam Hussein is on trial separately in connection with a military campaign against Kurdish communities in the 1980s. | Saddam Hussein is on trial separately in connection with a military campaign against Kurdish communities in the 1980s. |