Iraq's Interim Government Takes Custody of Saddam Hussein and Associates

Iraq's interim government has announced that it will take legal custody of Saddam Hussein and 11 of his top associates from the United States, marking a significant step towards bringing the former dictator to justice. The move comes as Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi acknowledged that American forces will continue to maintain physical custody of the men until Iraq has a prison system capable of ensuring their safety and preventing escape. The group includes Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali," and Taha Yassin Ramadan, a vice president who was responsible for the torture and killing of tens of thousands of Iraqis.

Key Takeaways:

• Iraq's interim government has taken legal custody of Saddam Hussein and 11 of his associates from the United States.
• The group includes several of the most notorious figures in Saddam's inner circle, including Ali Hassan al-Majid and Taha Yassin Ramadan.
• American forces will continue to maintain physical custody of the men until Iraq has a prison system capable of ensuring their safety and preventing escape.
• The prosecution of Saddam Hussein will be led by an Iraqi court, with charges of crimes against humanity expected to be filed on Thursday.
• The trial is expected to take place without any apparent international pressure or interference, despite some concerns about the legitimacy of the process.
• Iraqis who lived through the repression under Saddam Hussein and were interviewed in Baghdad on Tuesday expressed broad support for the dictator's trial, with many calling for him to be held accountable for his crimes.
• However, some international legal experts have raised doubts about the effectiveness of the trial, citing concerns about the influence of the United States on the process.

Statistics:

• 12 Iraqis, including Saddam Hussein, will be tried for crimes against humanity.
• The trial is expected to take place in a special Iraqi court set up to try members of the ousted government for crimes against humanity.
• The United States has transferred custody of the 12 men to the Iraqi government, with American forces maintaining physical custody until the trial is completed.
• Iraq's interim government has announced plans to establish a prison system capable of housing the 12 men safely.
• A recent poll showed that 70% of Iraqis favor reinstating the death penalty, especially for Saddam Hussein and his top aides.

Sources:

• "Iraq Takes Custody of Saddam Hussein" by The New York Times.
• "Saddam Hussein and Top Allies to Face Trial in Iraq" by Associated Press.
• "Iraq's Iyad Allawi Seeks to Distance Country from U.S." by The New York Times.