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| Iraq |
| Iraqi ex-defence chief (# 27) surrenders |
| 2003-09-19 |
| EFL Iraq’s last defence minister under Saddam Hussein, former General Sultan Hashim Ahmed, has surrendered to US forces in northern Iraq, a Kurdish mediator says. Mr Ahmed - number 27 on the Americans’ list of most wanted former regime officials - reportedly surrendered in the northern city of Mosul on Friday after weeks of mediation. Dawood Bagistani, who arranged the surrender to US Major-General David Petraeus, said Mr Ahmed was handed over "with great respect" and was with his family at the time. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #2 TT, we didn't offer him immunity, all we did was promise him a honorable surrender: "I offer you a simple, yet honourable alternative to a life on the run from coalition forces in order to avoid capture, imprisonment and loss of honour and dignity befitting a general officer," Maj-Gen Petraeus said in the letter, written at the end of last month. "I officially request your surrender to me. In return, I will accept this from you in person. You have my word that you will be treated with the utmost dignity and respect, and that you will not be physically or mentally mistreated while under my custody. As a sign of good faith, I will personally ensure that my staff will attend to any medical conditions you have," the letter over Maj-Gen Petraeus’s name and signature said. No promises that he won't stand trial for war crimes. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-9-19 8:40:29 AM |
| #1 The real story is probably more interesting. Wonder if we'll ever hear it. The "de-Baathification" dilemma is a hard one. This guy has probably done some terrible things. But offering immunity to him may be the best solution, even if it is unjust to his victims and their families that he may never stand trial. |
| Posted by: Tokyo Taro 2003-9-19 4:52:35 AM |