Saddam in handover.
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| Tue, 06-15-2004 - 9:02am |
US officials have said they plan to continue to hold up to 5000 prisoners deemed a threat to the coalition even after the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty at the end of June. They say as many as 1400 detainees will either be released or transferred to Iraqi authorities.
However, in an interview with the pan-Arab satellite television station Al-Jazeera, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said Iraqi officials expect to take possession of Saddam and all other detainees with the transfer of power on June 30.
"All the detainees will be transferred to the Iraqi authorities and the transporting operation will be done within the two coming weeks," Allawi said.
He said the former Iraqi president would stand trial "as soon as possible" but gave no specific timeframe.
Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi announced that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein would be handed over to local authorities within two weeks.
But the Pentagon says it is not aware of any immediate plans for Saddam and thousands of other Iraqi detainees, to be transferred from US custody to Iraq.
"The transfer of Saddam Hussein and the others will take place within two weeks," Mr Allawi told al-Jazeera television.
"Yes, Saddam and the others will be handed over to the Iraqi government, and their trial will begin as soon as possible, God willing," he said.
The head of Iraq's special tribunal on war crimes, Salem Chalabi, said the country will soon have a detention centre ready to hold Saddam and his former henchmen.
He said arrest warrants would be required before the former leader was transferred to Iraqi authorities.
In Washington a senior State Department official said the Saddam issue is being discussed.
"If the Iraqis want him, we're receptive to ideas to transfer him. But I am not aware of any plan that's been worked out on this. Still, if they're going to push on it, we are not going to push back," he said.
More......... http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=87297®ion=6
Straw Welcomes 'Saddam Handover' Reports.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw welcomed reports today that the United States is poised to hand over Saddam Hussein and other detainees to Iraq’s new government.
He told MPs that he had no independent confirmation of the move, but added: “If that is to happen I think it would be widely welcomed in this House.â€
Mr Straw also pledged to resist any moves by the new regime in Baghdad to restore the death penalty in the run up to any trial of the toppled former dictator.
More.... http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3067599
Edited 6/15/2004 11:42 am ET ET by cl-libraone


Sounds like the Iraqis are assuming authority. A very necessary step to gain popular approval. Can the US's alpha spirit be reigned in?