Iraq is likely location for tyrant's trial

The trial of Saddam Hussein should be held in Iraq, amongst Iraqi people, and Britain would not object to the execution of the former dictator if that is the judgment of the court, according to government sources today.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson has said that, if a court were to sentence Hussein to the death penalty, Britain would not object.

Whilst the legal wrangling continues over the nature of the process to try the former Iraqi dictator, it seems likely that he will be tried in Iraq – and not at an international court such as the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia which was set up in The Hague to try former Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic.

In his address to the nation yesterday, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that Saddam Hussein should be "tried in Iraqi courts for his crimes against the Iraqi people". Today, Iraq's foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari told the BBC today that any trial should be held in Iraq, and that the Iraqi authorities would request support from the international community to ensure that a trial would observe "international standards".

US President George Bush has merely stated that Hussein would "face the justice he denied to millions".

According to news agencies, members of the Iraqi governing council are speculating that the trial could be underway as early as March next year. Some observers believe that if the trial is to be an all-Iraqi affair then it must begin before the US' official handover of power to an Iraqi administration on July 1.

Almost 48 hours into his detention, Saddam is reported to be held at the US military headquarters in Qatar. US sources say that Saddam has remained silent and uncooperative as he undergoes the first stages of interrogation.

The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told reporters today that he would not be holding his breath "for any confessional statement from Saddam Hussein".

The US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said that Saddam enjoys the privileges of a prisoner of war according to the Geneva Convention – however he is not officially defined as a PoW.

Rumours circulating yesterday morning of Saddam's capture were finally confirmed at a press conference in Baghdad by the US administrator to Iraq Paul Bremer, who simply announced the world: "Ladies and gentlemen, we got him."

Acting on intelligence provided by a former regime loyalist, US forces swamped the town of al Dawr, 15 miles south of Tikrit, at around 6pm local time on Saturday evening.

About 600 members of the US 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, along with special forces began searches which uncovered the entrance to a 'spider hole' at around 8.30pm. Saddam Hussein was found hiding at the bottom of it. He emerged with his hands in the air, telling US troops: "My name is Saddam Hussein. I am the president of Iraq and I want to negotiate."

It is believed that Saddam had been based in the Tikrit area – his home town – since the collapse of his country's armed forces in April.

The man in charge of the operation that led to Saddam's capture, Maj Gen Raymond Odierno, commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, said that Saddam Hussein had been "caught like a rat". And despite being armed with a pistol, Saddam offered no resistance and was brought into custody without a shot being fired. Two other men were arrested during the raid.

Coalition forces also uncovered some weapons and $750,000 in $100 bills.

Saddam Hussein was taken to an undisclosed location for medical attention, thought to be Baghdad International Airport – formerly Saddam Hussein Airport – which is considered to be the most secure part of the country.

Reports were emerging last night suggesting that the former dictator had been taken out of the country. The BBC reported today that he now may be being held in Qatar.

(gmcg)