Death penalty ruling could sour international relations

SADDAM HUSSEIN'S trial raises the spectre of another international disagreement over Iraq should the deposed dictator be put to death?

The new Iraqi government said the Special Tribunal that will hold Saddam's trial would be able to impose the death penalty a move not likely to aggravate Washington, which says Saddam's government killed at least 300,000 Iraqis.

But it would once again put the United States at odds with Europe, which adamantly opposes capital punishment.