WASHINGTON, 16 December 2003 — President George W. Bush said yesterday that Saddam Hussein will be put on public trial for his crimes, in a manner to be set in consultation with Iraqis brutalized across three decades of tyranny.

“All the atrocities need to come out and justice needs to be delivered,” Bush said at a year-end news conference.

At the same time, he said the weekend capture of the former Iraqi dictator likely did not signal an end to attacks on American forces stationed in Iraq. “The work of our coalition remains difficult and will require further sacrifice,” he said. Bush said he had a simple message for Saddam: “Good riddance.” “The world is better off without you, Mr. Saddam Hussein,” he added.

In Baghdad, a member of the Iraqi Governing Council told The Associated Press that Saddam could be tried “in the next few weeks,” and executed if convicted.

Asked whether he favors Saddam’s execution, Bush said his own personal views don’t matter. “There needs to be a public trial and all the atrocities need to come out and justice needs to be delivered,” he said.

Bush spoke as top defense officials said Saddam will be given the protections accorded prisoners of war. At the same time he undergoes interrogation aimed in part at stemming an insurgency against coalition forces. Saddam’s capture is already reported reaping dividends for the US military. The first transcript of Saddam’s initial interrogation and a briefcase of documents he had with him helped lead to the capture of several key regime figures, one commander told The Associated Press.

More details emerged of how the ousted dictator was caught on Saturday in a hole in the ground near his hometown Tikrit.

Despite his unkempt, bewildered look seen around the world on a US military film, he reacted as if still in power. “I’m Saddam Hussein, I’m the president of Iraq and I’m willing to negotiate’,” one US official quoted him as saying. “The response from soldiers was: ‘President Bush sends his regards’.” Members of the Governing Council said Saddam was still in Iraq and would face trial.

Asked if the death penalty could be considered, Council leader Abdelaziz Al-Hakim said: “Yes. Absolutely.” Human rights groups say Iraq lacks judges, lawyers and institutions to conduct fair trials without help, but British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was confident it would manage.

Time magazine, quoting a US intelligence official, said Saddam denied having had weapons of mass destruction. “The US dreamed them up itself to have a reason to go to war with us,” it quoted him as saying.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw tried to dampen hopes of finally finding the elusive weapons, saying: “I’m not holding my breath for any confessional statement from Saddam Hussein.” An Iraqi official who met Saddam said the prisoner was a “broken man” with no remorse.