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Hussein will face Iraqi court this week

Jun-29-2004 » Filed Under: Iraq News

[Link to Full Article]
By NADIA ABOU EL-MAGD; Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Saddam Hussein will be transferred to Iraqi legal custody and face charges in an Iraqi court this week -- but he won’t go on trial for months and he will stay in a U.S.-run jail because the country doesn’t have a suitable prison, the prime minister said Tuesday.

Prime Minister Iyad Allawi promised an open proceeding when Saddam faces war crimes charges, including genocide.

Eleven other “high-value detainees” also are expected to face justice, he said at his first news conference since the U.S.-led coalition handed over sovereignty to his government Monday.

“I know I speak for my fellow countrymen when I say I look forward to the day former regime leaders face justice,” he said.

Saddam will be transferred to Iraqi legal custody on Wednesday and face arraignment before an Iraqi judge on Thursday, Allawi said. Soon after the end of the press conference, Iraqi authorities announced arrest warrants for Saddam and the 11 others, including former Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Aziz.


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