No date set for Saddam's trial, Iraq govt concedes

[bemildred]

BAGHDAD, June 7 (Reuters) - Iraq's government backed away on Tuesday from recent claims that Saddam Hussein could be tried within weeks, saying it was up to the country's independent Special Tribunal to decide when he goes to court.

Senior officials, including the president and the prime minister's spokesman, had said in the past week that Saddam could be tried within two months and indicated he could be the first member of the former regime to appear in court.

The announcements appeared designed to show that the government was making progress in bringing the former president to justice more than two years after his overthrow, and amid growing pressure from Iraqis for a trial.

But the Special Tribunal, an independent body set up in late 2003 by U.S.-backed authorities, issued a statement reiterating its independence and saying no date had been set for any trial.

Reuters

[WeRQ4U]

1. I thought a good democratic system had "speedy trials"

They've progressed beyond their years.

[Spazito]

2. LOL, I read this as: We don't have a date yet because....

we have to wait for the RIGHT moment to distract the people from something damaging to bush.

[Karenina]

5. Bingo, eh? n/t

[whosinpower]

3. If the special tribunal was set up by

US backed Authorities.....how is it they call it independant?????????

[Rex]

4. U.S. backs down on trial for former ally.

nt

[gratuitous]

6. Hmmm, considering that . . .

The corrupt Bush administration didn't want Saddam's trial happening quite that soon, it looks like someone in the new "independent" Iraqi government got the word that their opinion on when the trial would start really wasn't needed or appreciated.

Yet another example of Iraq's famously "independent" government deciding to do exactly what the U.S. wanted them to do. It's been an amazing string of coincidences!

[CJCRANE]

7. Remember

Saddam's first appearance in Court, when they had him in the dock with no lawyer, read out a few general charges and then adjourned?

Is it just me, or do they just trot these out occasionally to get a few headlines...