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BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A special Iraqi tribunal
investigating Saddam Hussein and his 11 henchmen on
Tuesday promised free and fair trials for the former
regime members, rejecting accusations that the
proceeding so far have not been transparent.
The Iraqi special tribunal wants to ensure that it
is an Iraqi independent court and that it has its
integrity, neutrality and transparency," the
tribunal said in a statement received by The
Associated Press Tuesday.
"The trial process (will) serve the truth and
achieve justice for Iraqi people," it added.
Human rights advocates and lawyers say the
tribunal's closed-door legal proceedings against
Saddam's ousted regime and the secrecy leading up to
the investigative hearings that began late last week
threaten to undermine the legitimacy of the trial
process.
Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi surprised many by
announcing the trials of several of Saddam's former
regime members would begin sooner than had been
expected, although no date was ever set. Then, a
judge made similarly unexpected news - announcing
without notice last Saturday that two high-profile
defendants had already been interrogated.
Ali Hassan al-Majid, better known as Chemical Ali
for his role in poison gas attacks against the
Kurdish minority, and former Defense Minister Gen.
Sultan Hashim Ahmad appeared last Saturday at a
preliminary hearing by investigative Judge Raad al-Juhyi.
"The investigation has been done in the presence of
an Iraqi (lawyer) who has been chosen by the accused
themselves," the tribunal said in the statement. The
"accused were very cooperative during the
investigation session and they may appear again
according to the investigation needs."
The tribunal did not say when Saddam's trial will
start. Saddam and 11 other defendants, all former
members of the ousted Baathist regime, appeared in
court in Baghdad in July on charges of war crimes
and genocide.
"For the former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, the
investigation procedures are continuing," the
statement said.
© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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