Congress plays safe on Saddam death sentence

New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) While choosing not to condemn or condone the US-sponsored Iraqi court verdict sentencing former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein to death for crimes against humanity, the Congress Party today said the verdict must be carefully scrutinised by the appeallate process.

Reacting to the judgement, AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi expressed happiness over the automatic appeal procedure available in Iraqi laws for those sentenced to death or life in prison, but said "...as far as due process system is concerned it remains a question mark in the context of origin and creation of the court." While refusing to comment whether the trial against Saddam was fair, he said "Our party believes that judicial verdicts have to inspire confidence..." In this context, he said every confidence building measures should be injected in the appellate process. "WE only hope and trust that the verdict should not impede the basic objective of peace and tranquility and democratic process for the people of Iraq," Dr Singhvi said.

Replying to a question, he said the stand of the Congress Party and the Manmohan Singh government were not at variance on the Iraqi issue, and also denied the suggestion that the stand of the Congress party on the Iraqi issue had been lukewarm.

Responding to another question, Dr Singhvi said the party would not toe any particular line to appease any country nor would it buckle under pressure.

When his attention was drawn to the statement of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ramesh Chennithala dubbing the verdict as a setback to global peace, brotherhood and a violation of human rights, the spokesman said that ''whatever I said is the official stand of the Congress on the issue. Anything else is individual point of view.'' Asked about the CPI(M)'s demand to the UPA government to categorically condemn the "judicial travesty" and actively intervene to get the setence rescinded, Dr Singh said "every party is entitled to its opinion...Congress is not obliged to use the words of other political parties." UNI SH VD RN1814