Britain tried to stop Saddam hanging, letter shows

[Barrett808]

Britain tried to stop Saddam hanging, letter shows
By Sophie Walker

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain tried to prevent the execution of Saddam Hussein, appealing to the Iraqi government right up to the eve of the former dictator's hanging, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett wrote.

In a letter to Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay, she said Britain had pressed its case many times, adding: "This included lobbying at the highest level in Baghdad on 29 December."

The ousted Iraqi leader was hanged the following day, his chaotic execution secretly recorded in footage which showed observers taunting Saddam with shouts of "Go to hell" and chanting the name of a Shi'ite cleric.

Both the execution and the way it was conducted have caused embarrassment to the British government.

After pressure to speak out publicly against it, British Prime Minister Tony Blair broke his silence only on Wednesday, calling the manner of Saddam's death "unacceptable" and "wrong."

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070111/wl_nm/iraq_britain_saddam_dc

[Greeby]

1. Didn't try too hard, did ya madame secretary?

:eyes:

[partylessinOhio]

2. Did you call Bush you 'ho? He was the "Decider." He could have stopped it.

It is easy to talk sh!t after the man is dead!

Britain propped up * and his illegal invasion. Britain enabled him.

Not in my name!