Iraqi President Opposes Death Penalty for Hussein

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1463067,00.html

Iraqi president will not sign death warrant for Saddam

 

Rory Carroll in Baghdad

Tuesday April 19, 2005

The Guardian

 

Iraq's new rulers split yesterday over whether to execute Saddam Hussein if he is convicted of war crimes, with President Jalal Talabani facing calls to resign if he refuses to sign a death warrant.

 

The Kurdish rebel-turned president said he opposed capital punishment on principle.

 

"Personally, no, I won't sign," he told the BBC. But he hinted he may abstain and pass the decision to the two vice-presidents, Adel Abdul Mahdi, a Shia, and Ghazi Yawar, a Sunni Arab, who with him comprise the presidential council. "My two partners in the presidency, the government, the house, all of them are for sentencing Saddam Hussein to death before the court will decide. So, I think I will be alone in this field."

Edited April 19, 200520 yr by KipWellsFan