Iran Wants Saddam Indicted for Iran-Iraq War

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi yesterday indicated, "Some of the crimes that Saddam committed were attacking Iran, killing Iranian people and using chemical weapons. We will submit the allegation report we are preparing to the court that is trying Saddam Hussein."

Asefi insisted that the court should be "transparent and open to people". He said that Saddam should be made to answer for the crimes and murders that he has committed. Asefi is also seeking an explanation from the Iraqis as to why the court did not include the Iran-Iraq War among the indictments.

On the other side, Chief Justice of the Iraqi court Salim Chalabi met with Jordanian lawyer Mohammed Rashdan, who is leading Saddam’s defense team. Rashdan said that Chalabi called him and he said that he [Chalabi] wanted to make it easier for the defense team to do its job in the court.

Rashdan disclosed that Chalabi was adamant that an Iraqi lawyer defend Saddam. Chalabi pointed out that according to Iraqi laws only an Iraqi can defend a client in court. Rashdan said that his team will begin looking into hiring an Iraqi lawyer in light of Chalabi’s insistence.

The defense team had applied more than once to come to Iraq and Rashdan claims that Iraqi Justice Minister Malik Al Hassan told Rashdan’s team, "If you come to Iraq, we will tear you to pieces." Rashdan said that his team was undaunted and would come to Iraq, sleeping in mosques if necessary.

"If they will kill us then at least let them do it in the presence of Allah," declared Rashdan.