Defence lawyers say sentence 'illegitimate'

Doha: A member of Saddam Hussain's defence team said the death sentence against the former Iraqi leader was "illegitimate" and accused the United States of being behind the judgment.

Najeeb Al Nuaimi, the former Qatari justice minister and lawyer of the deposed Iraqi president, told Gulf News in Doha yesterday that the sentence had already been pronounced long before the trial started and he expected the appeal court to reconfirm the verdict.

"The judgment is illegitimate because it was based on illegitimate procedures. The defence team was deprived from carrying out the defence proceedings, from submitting useful memos and materials and from holding a final argument before the court. This is against all legal procedures," Al Nuaimi said following his arrival to Doha from Baghdad.

"They have justified the measures with our alleged delay in presenting the court with our demands, but these are only excuses."

Al Nuaimi said the defence team would appeal the sentence within 25 days. However he said he was sure the verdict would be confirmed.

"The appeal court is composed of the same members that condemned Saddam to death. It has already been decided that Saddam has to be sentenced to death," he said.

"The United States is manoeuvring this court and is deciding on the final verdict."

Asked whether he spoke to Saddam following the sentence, Al Nuaimi said the defence could not approach him.

"We will have a chance to talk to him only when we present the appeal."

Commenting on the refusal of Saddam's request to be sentenced by firing squad and not by hanging as sentenced by the court, Al Nuaimi said the refusal was motivated by a desire of humiliating the former Iraqi leader.

"They want to humiliate him, this is the sole reason. They do not want to give him a military execution."

Al Nuaimi said he could not estimate what the reaction in Baghdad would be following the sentence, as a curfew on the city would prevent any public protests. However he said the move would provoke a backlash against the United States.

"They are making a mistake, because this sentence is not legitimate and is not the result of a fair trial. This would carry consequences," said Al Nuaimi without elaborating.

Al Nuaimi, who joined Saddam's defence upon a personal request from the former Iraqi leader, was Qatar's minister of justice between 1995 and 1997. He said he never met Saddam Hussain or any of his government members before the trial started.

He said he spoke to Saddam's wife and family yesterday, following the sentence.

"They are extremely worried and asked me if there's anything we could do. I said they should be ready for the worst."