Red Cross ultimatum to US on Saddam

[cal04]

Release him, charge him or break international law, Bush told
Saddam Hussein must either be released from custody by June 30 or charged if the US and the new Iraqi government are to conform to international law, the International Committee of the Red Cross said last night.

Nada Doumani, a spokeswoman for the ICRC, told the Guardian: "The United States defines Saddam Hussein as a prisoner of war. At the end of an occupation PoWs have to be released provided they have no penal charges against them." Her comments came as the international body, the only independent group with access to detainees in US custody, becomes increasingly concerned over the legal limbo in which thousands of people are being held in the run-up to the transfer of power at the end of the month.

The ICRC is angry that it has not been given exact figures for releases or the whereabouts of those who are moved from Abu Ghraib and it is hoping the end of the occupation will put pressure on the authorities to clean up their act. "If we consider the occupation ends on June 30, that would mean it's the end of the international armed conflict. This is the legal situation. "When the conflict ends the prisoners of war should be released according to the Geneva conventions," Ms Doumani said. She accepted that US and other foreign forces would remain in Iraq.

Whether that meant an occupation continued would be "determined by the situation on the ground". The presence of foreign forces ought to be governed by a legal agreement with the host government. The ICRC has made at least two visits to the former Iraqi president who is believed to be in a special prison at Baghdad airport. US lawyers have been helping Iraqis prepare charges against Saddam but officials say they do not expect a trial until next year at the earliest. The US and the Iraqi authorities hope other defendants will first testify against him. But none has been willing to do so. Whether it is out of loyalty or fear of retribution by Saddam's sympathisers is not clear. Once charged the former president will be entitled to judicial guarantees including access to a lawyer and the right to prepare a defence.

The US has made clear it will continue to detain some Iraqis after the transfer of sovereignty as part of its security operations

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1238263,00.html

[wtmusic]

1. Just more evidence they are war criminals

The US also becomes eligible for war crimes prosecution on July 1.

What a coincidence!

[Eric J in MN]

4. What do you mean by "eligible for war crimes prosecution on July 1?"

nt

[wtmusic]

5. The US is exempt from war crimes prosecution

through June 30. They pushed a resolution through the UNSC with a lot of arm-twisting around the start of the war, but failed to get a commmitment to renew the resolution a couple of weeks ago, and it stalled.

They will undoubtedly re-introduce the resolution in the coming weeks. I think the implications are fascinating: that our own government thought we even NEEDED to demand immunity. What message should that send to the American public?

[graham67]

2. Do you think....

they're torturing him too?

[Kanary]

3. Painted into a corner.......

what a crying shame........

:)

Kanary

[Deja Q]

6. LOL! They wish.

Will Bush also give up his widdle twophy gun along with Saddam?

I don't think so. They won't release Saddam.

The US is now a war criminal, no wonder Bushie* wanted to detach itself from international law...

Bring 'em on.