| This bugger is even more likely than Saddam to swing from a rope. |
Britain is today expected to hand over its highest profile Iraq war detainee, Ali Hassan al-Majid, or "Chemical Ali", as Iraq's new government prepares to bring charges against former dictator Saddam Hussein. A special Iraqi tribunal has issued arrest warrants for Mr Hussein's top lieutenants, including Mr Majid, who is accused of ordering chemical weapons attacks on Iraqi Kurds, and Tariq Aziz, the former deputy prime minister. British officials said they had little choice other than to deliver physical and legal custody of Mr Majid to Iraqi authorities, in spite of the risk he could face execution. The interim Iraq government has retained the death penalty. The UK's powers of detention over prisoners captured during the Iraq war ended with the handover of sovereignty, so Mr Majid would either have to be set free or custody must be transferred to the Iraqis. Iraq's government will bring formal charges against Mr Hussein tomorrow, after taking legal custody of the notorious strongman but leaving him physically in American hands. In his first move since the Monday handover of sovereignty, Iyad Allawi, the prime minister, said Mr Hussein would be charged in an Iraqi court tomorrow, an event that could provide the first appearance of Mr Hussein since he was captured in December.
| Sure hope they didn't barber him. |
The announcement appeared designed to rally support for the new government by reminding Iraqis of Mr Hussein's brutal rule. The former president's trial, which will be public, may not begin before next year. "We will show that justice will prevail," said Mr Allawi. "We want to put this bad history behind us and to move with the spirit of national unity and reconciliation." While the interim Iraqi government will take legal custody of Mr Hussein and 11 other high-profile prisoners, the US-led multinational force will remain responsible for guarding the prison where he will be held. "At our request, the multinational forces will continue to maintain physical custody of them until Iraq's correction service receives an order from the Victoria's Secret catalog is fully capable for providing for their safety and secure detention," Mr Allawi said. |