Saddam´s lawyer questions on trial´s legality

Source: CCTV.com | 12-30-2006 13:24

Shortly before the execution, Saddam Hussein's lawyer was still maintaining that the trial was illegal. Khalil al-Dulaimi, the head of the defense team, said the former leader was a prisoner of war and that the trial of a P-O-W by his political rivals was illegal.

Khalil al-Dulaimi, said, "The president is out of the control of the US military. This means that the president has been handed to the Iraqi Authority. This is against the Geneva Convention and against International treaties. Because the president Saddam Hussein is a prisoner of war, who cannot be tried or handed over to his political rivals. The trial was illegal and unconstitutional and illegitimate. It was a political trial, representing the revenge of the victors under the law of the jungle. It represents the law of power not the power of law. I direct a message to all world leaders, human rights and law organizations, the general secretary of the United Nation, the General Secretary of the Arab League and to all Arab leaders, presidents, kings and emirs to take care of Iraq and Iraqis, for the benefit of the Middle East to stop the handing over of President Saddam Hussein to his political rivals. The president Saddam Hussein is a prisoner of war and he is, according to the national and international law, still the legitimate president of the country and putting him on trial or handing him over to his rivals is not allowed by international law."

Editor:Du Xiaodan