Iraqi PM furious that he can't execute prisoners

Toronto News.Net
Sunday 11th November, 2007

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has accused the U.S government of thwarting attempts to execute former members of Saddam Hussein's government.

He says his Government is being forced to violate the Iraqi constitution by failing to execute the men on time.

In September a court upheld the death sentences against Saddam's cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majeed, former defence minister Sultan Hashem, and a former army commander, Hussein Rashid Muhammad, for their roles in the genocide of Iraq's Kurds in 1988.

Under Iraq's constitution the sentences should have been carried out within 30 days.

Mr Maliki said the U.S embassy had prevented the handover of the three prisoners, but the embassy says Iraq can receive the prisoners from custody only if it receives an authoritative order from the Iraqi government.

The nature of the order has caused a row between Mr Maliki's Shiite-led Government, President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and Sunni Arab Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi.

Mr Talabani and Mr Hashemi say each of them should sign the order but Mr Maliki disagrees, suggesting he alone should do it.

Have your say on this story