A lawyer for deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein today called on the international community to prevent U.S. authorities from handing over the former Iraqi leader to Iraqi officials for execution.
Khalil al-Dulaimi said Hussein "is a prisoner of war and according to international law he should not be handed to his enemies."
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi today spoke out against executing Hussein.
"I don't think that Saddam [Hussein]'s execution could help bring peace to Iraq in any way," Prodi said. "Putting aside the condemnation of the death penalty that I strongly reiterate and express again, even as a political choice, [Saddam Hussein's execution] risks having more negative aspects than positive ones."
Earlier, a senior Vatican official said he hopes Hussein will be spared execution, citing the Catholic Church's opposition to the death penalty.
An Iraqi appeals court on December 26 upheld a November 5 decision to execute Hussein for his role in the killing of 148 Shi'a in 1982.
The court today published its formal written decision, putting in motion the process expected to lead to Hussein's execution within 30 days.
According to Justice Minister Hahim al-Shibli, the judgment must be ratified by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
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