Trial of Saddam and aides to begin 'within weeks'

1.00pm

KUWAIT - Iraq's toppled leader Saddam Hussein and his top aides will go on trial within weeks, Iraqi minister of state Kasim Daoud said on Sunday.

"Saddam Hussein and his band will stand trials within a period of weeks," Daoud told a news conference in Kuwait City after talks with top officials.

He said he was referring to the US list of the 55 most wanted members of Saddam's administration, most of whom are either in custody or have been killed.

More time was needed to prepare the files of other junior officials accused of crimes against the Iraqi people as there were simply too many of them, Daoud added.

Asked if the United States would play a role in the trials, he said: "We have barred the Iraqi government from playing a role, how can we allow a foreign faction to have a role in Saddam Hussein's trial? No ... Saddam Hussein will be tried by the Iraqi judiciary and it will issue its just sentence against him."

In mid-August, interim prime minister Iyad Allawi urged an Iraqi court to speed up proceedings against Saddam. He said his US-backed government would do all it can to ensure the men get a fair trial.

Saddam -- deposed in last year's US-led war on Iraq -- was arraigned before a US-appointed judge on July 1 and charged with crimes against humanity. Several top aides also appeared separately before the same judge for their arraignment. Pending trial, they are being held in a secret location by US forces under Iraqi jurisdiction.

Asked about the news of the arrest of a man believed to be Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the most wanted Saddam aide still on the run, Daoud said it took place near Tikrit in a joint operation by multinational forces and the Iraqi National Guard.

"Intelligence sources" led to the arrest, Daoud said, adding that the attempt by scores of people to prevent the arrest confirmed the man was a major figure in the insurgency.

"He will join his gang in the Iraqi jails to be interrogated, then he will be presented to the court which we expect to be formed and announced very soon," he said.

Daoud side-stepped questions about who will head the Saddam trial tribunal, whose former US-appointed administrator Salem Chalabi has been charged with murder.

"There are many names being discussed and the head of the tribunal will be announced soon," he said.

He said security in Iraq would improve soon thanks to the government drive to rebuild the army, police and intelligence services, and as a result of the arrest of insurgents and an economic policy aimed at reducing unemployment.

"Some measures have been taken that will lead to reduction of terrorist operations and show a bright picture for security in Iraq," Daoud said. "All of these combined will reflect (on the country) in the coming few weeks."

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq