Iraqi Council OKs War Crimes Tribunal

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq (news - web sites)'s interim government voted Tuesday to establish a war crimes tribunal to prosecute top members of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime, two people who attended the meeting said.

The tribunal will be formally established on Wednesday, when the U.S. administrator for Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, temporarily cedes legislative authority to the Iraqi Governing Council so that it can create the court.

One Governing Council member, Younadem Kana, told The Associated Press that the court's proceedings would be open to the Iraqi public — and possibly broadcast on television.

He said the first suspects brought to trial for crimes against humanity could include top officials in the U.S. miltary's "deck of cards" of most-wanted Iraqis.

"The top 55, they are the first priority," Kana said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031209/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_war_crimes&cid=540&ncid=1480

[Kremer]

1. I say they're gonna want to try Bush 1st & then Saddam's thugs.

Or Cheney first? Or Blair? Or Rummy? Or Condi? Or that other cocksucker in Spain Anzar? Well, it's certainly going to be a busy court! But I have faith in Iraqi's. I'm sure they'll know in which order they want to try the cases. You think Courttv will have cameras there when Rummy blows it on the stand during cross examination and starts yelling out " I wus only folluving orderz," like the Nazi's during Nurenburg, as he's taken away in shackles. This outta be good! :)

[Jacobin]

2. I'm assuming that the by-laws exclude the U.S. from its jurisdiction

:eyes:

This is a "saddam is a bad man and he is evil" court.
Free pass for U.S. atrocities.

[Junkdrawer]

3. A "how convenient" kick..

:kick:

[Junkdrawer]

4. *cough* Kangaroo Court *cough*

Iraq: Tribunals To Try Gravest Crimes Of Former Ba'athist Regime
By Sergei Danilochkin

The U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council has announced the creation of a special tribunal to try former members of deposed President Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime for crimes against humanity. The court could bolster public support for the current Iraqi leadership. But international rights groups have expressed concern the authorities may not have enough expertise to conduct the proceedings properly.

Prague, 11 December 2003 (RFE/RL) -- The U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council this week set up a special tribunal to try former members of the Iraqi Ba'athist regime for crimes against humanity.

The creation of the tribunal, which will be staffed and led by Iraqi nationals, resulted from months of work. It will take many more months before the first trials actually start in Baghdad.

Iraqi Governing Council president Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim, in announcing the tribunal yesterday, said it was a historic achievement.

"This court will try cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from 17 July 1968 till 1 May 2003," al-Hakim said.

More...

http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/12/11122003181030.asp