Saddam to face charges in days

SADDAM Hussein will appear before an Iraqi judge in the “next few days” to face charges related to his 23 years of misrule, Iraqi and coalition officials said in Baghdad.

The disclosure came only hours after the US-led coalition handed power to an Iraqi interim government in a ceremony in Baghdad.

"Over the next few days, the Iraqi authorities will be taking custody of 12 senior members of the previous regime, including Saddam Hussein," said Salem Chalabi, an Iraqi official in charge of setting up a tribunal. The ousted Iraqi leader however, will remain in the hands of US troops, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said.

"Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has said there are no facilities that he has available to hold Saddam in the amount of security that would be required, so he has asked the multinational forces to retain physical custody while legal custody is transferred over to the people of Iraq," he said.

But the Jordanian lawyer claiming to represent Saddam said the ousted leader should be released because handing him over to Iraq's new government would violate international law.

Ziad al-Khasawneh, one of 20 Jordanian and foreign lawyers appointed by Saddam's wife, Sajidah, said the US has no legal basis to keep prisoners, including Saddam, now that it has transferred authority to an interim Iraqi government.

"International law dictates that in such a situation, the occupation authority must release all prisoners of war including Mr President Saddam and let them choose to leave to any country they wish to go to and under the protection of the occupying power and the UN," Mr al-Khasawneh said.

"The US would violate international law if it handed the president (Saddam) or other prisoners of war over to the interim Iraqi government," he said

Saddam was granted prisoner of war status after his capture. Although he is alleged to have committed crimes against his own people, he has not been charged with any offence.

The Iraqi Special Tribunal, set up six months ago, is expected to try Saddam for atrocities committed in his 23 years as president, including the deaths of around 300,000 people.