Paris, Mar 31: Swiss President Pascal Couchepin said today that if Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein decided to seek exile, his destination would not be Switzerland. “To my knowledge, and after having spoken on this subject with several representatives of foreign countries, if Saddam (decided to leave), his little nest is planned for elsewhere than in Switzerland,” Couchepin said, not specifying which countries he'd conferred with.

Saddam has repeatedly dismissed all talk of exile. Before the war, leaders from around the world urged the Iraqi leader to flee his country to avert war. There was speculation that Switzerland was a possibility.


A private TV channel quoted US officials last week as saying that secret talks have continued behind the scenes about Saddam surrendering and his exile to, among other places, Mauritania in west Africa.

Couchepin met in Paris with French President Jacques chirac for talks that focused on Iraq. The two men discussed “destabilisation that risks following a regime change in Baghdad,” Couchepin said.

They also discussed ongoing tension between the Israelis and Palestinians and the upcoming g-8 summit in Evian, France in June.

Bureau Report