New Iraq War Crimes Court to Try Saddam, Aides
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BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A new Iraqi war crimes court will try ousted President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and his top associates, a party in Iraq (news - web sites)'s Governing Council said Tuesday.
The U.S.-backed Council agreed to set up a commission charged with laying down laws, local or international, that would allow it to put suspected war criminals on trial, said Entifadh Qanbar, spokesman for the Iraqi National Congress
"The Council decided to form a judicial high commission to look into the various types of crimes ... and to try war criminals," he told Reuters.
"The United States has not declared until now what it's going to do with the 55 (most wanted members of Saddam's government). The Governing Council will take it upon itself to try them and to punish them according to law," said Qanbar.
"That includes Saddam Hussein, the biggest criminal."
The 25-member Council was formed Sunday, the first Iraqi national political body since a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam on April 9.
Qanbar said the Council also decided to form a commission to look into ways to "uproot" Saddam's once all-powerful Baath Party from Iraqi society.
The U.S.-led administration of Iraq had banned Saddam's ruling party and launched a de-Baathification process, sacking all senior party members from government jobs.
Qanbar said the Council would start with reviewing bylaws for a government before considering naming ministers.
The Council has some executive powers, like nominating ministers, changing laws, helping in naming a committee to draft a new constitution and prepare for free elections. But the final say remains in the hands of U.S. administrator Paul Bremer.
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