CPM asks UPA govt to condemn death sentence to Saddam

New Delhi, Nov 5 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today denounced the death sentence awarded to ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and urged the UPA government to categorically condemn this ''judicial travesty'' and get it rescinded.

''The UPA government must actively intervene to get the sentence rescinded,'' the CPI (M) Polit Bureau said in a statement here.

The Polit Bureau also called upon all its party units to protest against the verdict.

''This is nothing but a totally rigged verdict delivered after a farcical trial,'' it said.

It pointed out that the defence lawyers representing Saddam were murdered and the Chief Judge was changed twice in the course of the trial.

''The British and the US governments should realise that the sentence, if executed, will be seen only as a judicial assassination and they will be held responsible fo all the consequences.'' UNI YJ VD PM1909