Is the US impeding certain Iraqi executions?
This interesting piece in today’s New York Sun, entitled “U.S. Sparks Row Over Iraqis Set For Execution,” hints that the US is hindering the ability for Iraq to go forward with scheduled executions. Here are snippets:
The American administration in Baghdad has sparked a diplomatic row with Prime Minister al-Maliki of Iraq by refusing to hand over for execution three war criminals convicted of genocide, including a cousin of Saddam Hussein’s known as “Chemical” Ali….
While Mr. Maliki insists that the execution should go forward without delay, the presidential council has a different view. Under Iraqi law, the council must sign the execution warrants before the hangings are carried out, but the constitution doesn’t rule on what happens if they fail to agree on the sentence….
The American Embassy in Baghdad insists that the fate of the three men is in the hands of the Iraq government and that until the legal dispute is resolved, it will keep the trio in coalition captivity.
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