Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Sweden rejects Saddam trial plea

Signs of intelligent life in Sweden? Saddam has long wanted to have his trial, and to serve a possible jail sentence, in Sweden:

Sweden rejects Saddam trial plea

Deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who faces trial on charges of crimes against humanity, will not be permitted to stand trial or serve his sentence in Sweden, a Swedish official said on Monday. "We have said 'no'," justice ministry director Ann Marie Bolin Pennegård told AFP, referring to a request from one of Hussein's lawyers for him to either await trial, stand trial or serve his sentence in Sweden. "Sweden has no intention of filing a request to the competent authorities in Iraq for a transfer of Saddam Hussein to Sweden before his trial," Pennegård wrote in the fax. "Nor has Sweden considered the issue of establishing a seat of the Iraqi Special Tribunal in Sweden. It is also to be noted that there is no possibility under present Swedish legislation ... to let Saddam Hussein serve any possible sentence in a Swedish prison after his trial," she added.

Saddam's men in Norway

Some of the men who worked for Saddam Hussein's regime, and carried out torture for him, are living in Norway under refugee status. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported Monday that several of those who tortured Saddam's opponents were granted at least temporary residence permission after arriving in Norway after the invasion of Iraq, to seek asylum. The men were members of Iraq's Baath Party, and, according to NRK, admitted to Norwegian authorities that they conducted attacks and torture on behalf of Saddam. Immigration agency UDI declined to comment on NRK's report. Spokesman Geir Løndal said in general terms, however, that temporary residence permission also can be granted to people who carried out torture, if they face torture themselves or the death penalty back in their homeland.

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