- News>
- World
Australia supports death penalty for Saddam
Canberra, Dec 15: Political leaders on both sides of the Australian Parliament today gave their backing to the death penalty for captured Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, although capital punishment was abolished here decades ago.
Canberra, Dec 15: Political leaders on both sides of the Australian Parliament today gave their backing to the death penalty for captured Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, although capital punishment was abolished here decades ago.
A jubilant Prime Minister John Howard, who was an enthusiastic partner to US President George W Bush in the US-led "coalition of the willing" that invaded Iraq, hailed news of Saddam's capture as a huge boost for the people of Iraq.
Howard, who was given the details of Saddam's capture in an early morning telephone call from US President George W. Bush, said it would lift a huge burden and remove a great fear from the people of Iraq.
"I congratulate those elements of the United States military responsible for his capture," he said. "Saddam's capture is a huge boost for the cause of liberty and democracy in Iraq."
He said he would prefer to see Saddam tried in Iraq than in an international tribunal, and would support the death penalty if it was imposed.
"I want him tried in circumstances where he will receive the justice he denied the other people," Howard said.
"Obviously there's a strong case for that to happen in Iraq. I'm not particularly attracted to the idea of him being tried say in The Hague. I think it would be better if he were tried in Iraq," the Australian PM said. Bureau Report
Howard, who was given the details of Saddam's capture in an early morning telephone call from US President George W. Bush, said it would lift a huge burden and remove a great fear from the people of Iraq.
"I congratulate those elements of the United States military responsible for his capture," he said. "Saddam's capture is a huge boost for the cause of liberty and democracy in Iraq."
He said he would prefer to see Saddam tried in Iraq than in an international tribunal, and would support the death penalty if it was imposed.
"I want him tried in circumstances where he will receive the justice he denied the other people," Howard said.
"Obviously there's a strong case for that to happen in Iraq. I'm not particularly attracted to the idea of him being tried say in The Hague. I think it would be better if he were tried in Iraq," the Australian PM said. Bureau Report