UPA Govt must intervene in Saddam's execution : Left Front

Kolkata, Nov 6 (UNI) The ruling Left Front in West Bengal today urged the UPA government at the Centre to intervne into the execution of the death sentence to the deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and chalked out a week-long programme throughout the state to build up public opinion against the 'US conspiracy'.

At an emergency Front Committee meeting, the constituents condemned the verdict of the trial court that ordered death for the former Iraqi leader and described it as a 'mockery of trial'.

''As the situation stands now, the Congress-led UPA government should protest the trial court's verdict and effectively intervene so that the execution is stalled,'' Front Committee Chairman Biman Basu said after the meeting.

He said India had a long history of friendly relation with Iraq which had all along maintained a secular nature, and unlike under the present regime, Indians doing business in that country always had a happy experience in the past.

The Front meeting observed that the way the Chief Justice of the trial court was changed twice and the counsels of Saddam Hussein were killed itself spoke about the 'murder of judiciary'.

Mr Basu, who is also a CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, said the issue would figure during the Polit Bureau meeting in Delhi on November 14 and 15.

The Front will organise processions in the state districts from November 8 to 14 and take out a central procession from Park Circus Maidan to Deshbandhu Park in the city on November 16 to make people aware of the the 'US conspiracy' and protest Saddam Hussein's death sentence.

UNI KDG PL KD BS1542