CBS/AP: New U.N. Chief's Death Penalty Flap

[Eugene]

New U.N. Chief's Death Penalty Flap
Secretary-General Runs Into Trouble On First Day Over Comments
On Saddam Hussein's Sentence

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2, 2007

(CBS/AP) Ban Ki-moon ran into trouble on his first day of work as U.N.
Secretary-General on Tuesday over Saddam Hussein's execution when
he twice failed to state the United Nations' opposition to the death
penalty and stressed instead that capital punishment should be a decision
of every country.

Michele Montas, his new spokesperson, insisted that there was no change
in U.N. policy, and what Ban said "was his own nuance" on the death penalty.

-snip-

But it was Ban's response when asked whether Saddam should have been
executed that raised questions, because Annan always reiterated the U.N.'s
policy against capital punishment and the top U.N. envoy in Iraq, Ashraf Qazi,
restated it again on Saturday after the former Iraqi leader was hanged.

-snip-

However, Ban took a different approach.

"Saddam Hussein was responsible for committing heinous crimes and unspeakable
atrocities against Iraqi people and we should never forget victims of his crime,"
he said. "The issue of capital punishment is for each and every member state to
decide."


-snip-

Full article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/02/world/main2324593.shtml

[JohnnyLib2]

1. He could have used a training period on DU!

LOL. I'm not up on him, but the man's got a helluva job.

[rusty charly]

2. why does he sound like the typical * appointee?

[Tom Joad]

4. Because he was?

[NaturalHigh]

3. "For each and every member state to decide."

I agree.

[dave_p]

5. 'cept

...he represents the UN, not each member state (that might be nice, but it's not asbout to happen just yet!)