ROME, 14 December 2004 — Saddam Hussein, captured by US forces a year ago, will stand trial in Iraq for crimes against humanity after national elections on Jan. 30, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said yesterday.
Following a morning audience with Pope John Paul, Zebari said he had told the Vatican that Saddam’s human rights and those of his lieutenants would be respected, in the wake of concern from members of the Church.
“We assured the Vatican that all of these people would be given a fair trial ... The same justice they denied us, we will give it to them,” he told a news conference.
When asked about Saddam’s trial, Zebari said there was no “specific date” yet set.
“All I know (is) it will happen after the election. I hope it will be soon, weeks. This is my personal desire,” he said.
Prime Minister Iyad Allawi called in September for the trial against Saddam and his aides to begin before the election. The tribunal’s ousted chief administrator, Salem Chalabi, accused Allawi at the time of manipulating the courts to boost his popularity and planning hasty show trials.
Since then Saddam’s trial date has been pushed back, and Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih said last month the case required more time than similar cases against his lieutenants due to its complexity.
“This trial is an important event to us, to prove our credibility. It will be open. It will be fair. It will be transparent,” Zebari told reporters.
Saddam’s trial could be preceded by a case against two of Saddam’s top allies, including Ali Hassan Al-Majid, known as “Chemical Ali”, for his alleged role in using poison gas against Kurds and Iranians.
“There are plans to try two of his lieutenants as soon as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, the US Army said yesterday that eight of Saddam ’s jailed lieutenants were refusing food, but a short time later stated that the men had given up their protest.
“All high-value criminals are once again eating. Those who didn’t eat breakfast this morning requested a late breakfast... which was provided to them,” said Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a spokesman on detention operations in Iraq.
He said earlier that eight of the 11 detainees, who along with Saddam are awaiting trial for crimes against humanity, were refusing food yesterday in their secret detention center.
The former regime officials awaiting trial include former Deputy Premier Tareq Aziz, former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, Saddam’s Personal Secretary Abed Hamid Mahmoud Al-Tikriti and “Chemical Ali”.
