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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Government hails Saddam verdict | Government hails Saddam verdict |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UK government has welcomed the conviction of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity by a Baghdad court. | The UK government has welcomed the conviction of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity by a Baghdad court. |
| Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, said all the defendants were being held to account for their crimes. | Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, said all the defendants were being held to account for their crimes. |
| Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said the verdict should be "respected". | Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said the verdict should be "respected". |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell warned that executing the former leader could make him a martyr and he should be imprisoned for life. | Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell warned that executing the former leader could make him a martyr and he should be imprisoned for life. |
| Iraqi decision | Iraqi decision |
| Mrs Beckett said: "I welcome that Saddam Hussein and the other defendants have faced justice and have been held to account for their crimes. | Mrs Beckett said: "I welcome that Saddam Hussein and the other defendants have faced justice and have been held to account for their crimes. |
| "Appalling crimes were committed by Saddam Hussein's regime. It is right that those accused of such crimes against the Iraqi people should face Iraqi justice. | "Appalling crimes were committed by Saddam Hussein's regime. It is right that those accused of such crimes against the Iraqi people should face Iraqi justice. |
| "Today's verdict and sentences by the Iraqi Higher Tribunal come at the end of a trial during which evidence has been offered and challenged in the full glare of media scrutiny." | "Today's verdict and sentences by the Iraqi Higher Tribunal come at the end of a trial during which evidence has been offered and challenged in the full glare of media scrutiny." |
| Home Secretary John Reid said the UK should respect the Iraqis' decision. | Home Secretary John Reid said the UK should respect the Iraqis' decision. |
| Mr Reid said: "It [the verdict] was an achievement for Iraq and an ultimate expression of their own sovereignty." | Mr Reid said: "It [the verdict] was an achievement for Iraq and an ultimate expression of their own sovereignty." |
| He added that they are "masters of their own destinies". | He added that they are "masters of their own destinies". |
| The verdict and sentencing of Saddam are a matter for Iraqi law and the Iraqi people Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague Death penalty for Saddam | The verdict and sentencing of Saddam are a matter for Iraqi law and the Iraqi people Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague Death penalty for Saddam |
| Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "We congratulate the Iraqi courts on reaching a verdict in such difficult circumstances, and the bravery shown by judges and witnesses in the face of severe violence and intimidation. | Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "We congratulate the Iraqi courts on reaching a verdict in such difficult circumstances, and the bravery shown by judges and witnesses in the face of severe violence and intimidation. |
| "It is important that Saddam Hussein faces justice for his crimes, for the sake of both his many victims and of the future of Iraq and its people. | "It is important that Saddam Hussein faces justice for his crimes, for the sake of both his many victims and of the future of Iraq and its people. |
| "The verdict and sentencing of Saddam are a matter for Iraqi law and the Iraqi people, but they deserve the support of the international community in ensuring that the decisions reached by the court are respected." | "The verdict and sentencing of Saddam are a matter for Iraqi law and the Iraqi people, but they deserve the support of the international community in ensuring that the decisions reached by the court are respected." |
| He would not be drawn on whether he agreed with the death penalty decision. | He would not be drawn on whether he agreed with the death penalty decision. |
| Margaret Beckett said his regime committed "appalling crimes" | Margaret Beckett said his regime committed "appalling crimes" |
| He said: "It is a sovereign decision taken by a sovereign nation, it is the ultimate expression of the sovereignty of Iraq." | He said: "It is a sovereign decision taken by a sovereign nation, it is the ultimate expression of the sovereignty of Iraq." |
| He added that it was a decision "which all of us should respect". | He added that it was a decision "which all of us should respect". |
| Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The conviction of Saddam Hussein will being relief to countless Iraqis whose lives have been blighted by the enormity of his behaviour. | Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The conviction of Saddam Hussein will being relief to countless Iraqis whose lives have been blighted by the enormity of his behaviour. |
| "But it will not bring back the many thousands who perished while he ruled their country. | "But it will not bring back the many thousands who perished while he ruled their country. |
| "His martyrdom can only add to the instability and unrest in Iraq. He should be detained for the rest of his natural life." | "His martyrdom can only add to the instability and unrest in Iraq. He should be detained for the rest of his natural life." |
| Anas Altikriti, the British Muslim Initiative spokesman, said the "sad reality" was that the verdict could mean the Iraqi people would "never have their day in court". | Anas Altikriti, the British Muslim Initiative spokesman, said the "sad reality" was that the verdict could mean the Iraqi people would "never have their day in court". |
| "If he was indeed executed before the Iraqi people could find out what really happened over the last 30 or 40 years that would be another great tragedy," he said. | "If he was indeed executed before the Iraqi people could find out what really happened over the last 30 or 40 years that would be another great tragedy," he said. |
| Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Alex Salmond - a longstanding critic of the government's military campaign - said it was a "very understandable verdict given the terms of the court". | Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Alex Salmond - a longstanding critic of the government's military campaign - said it was a "very understandable verdict given the terms of the court". |
| "I think very probably, certainly in my judgment, it would be a bad idea to execute Saddam Hussein because dead martyrs are more important than live criminals," he told the Sunday AM programme. | "I think very probably, certainly in my judgment, it would be a bad idea to execute Saddam Hussein because dead martyrs are more important than live criminals," he told the Sunday AM programme. |
| Sentencing | Sentencing |
| Saddam Hussein looked shocked and furious as the sentence was passed in the Baghdad courtroom, and continued to shout, denouncing the court, the judge and the US-led occupation force in Iraq. | Saddam Hussein looked shocked and furious as the sentence was passed in the Baghdad courtroom, and continued to shout, denouncing the court, the judge and the US-led occupation force in Iraq. |
| The former leader's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti was also sentenced to death, as was Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bander. | The former leader's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti was also sentenced to death, as was Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bander. |
| Former vice-president Taha Yassin Ramadan got life in jail and three others received 15 year prison terms. | Former vice-president Taha Yassin Ramadan got life in jail and three others received 15 year prison terms. |
| Another co-defendant, Baath party official Mohammed Azawi Ali, was acquitted. | Another co-defendant, Baath party official Mohammed Azawi Ali, was acquitted. |