- Title: INDIA: Communists protest Saddam death sentence
- Date: 30th December 2006
- Summary: (BN17) AGARTALA, INDIA (DECEMBER 29, 2006) (ANI) SANKAR DATTA, COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA-MARXIST (CPI-M) LEADER ADDRESSING A RALLY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT THE RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Bengali) SANKAR DATTA, COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA-MARXIST (CPI-M) LEADER, SAYING: "Here we are protesting against the aggressive policy of U.S. President George W. Bush who is interfering in the sovereignty of another nation by giving death sentence to the Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. We want to make the peace loving people aware of the US policy and want India to intervene in order to stop the death sentence awarded to Saddam." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN THE RALLY
- Embargoed: 14th January 2007 02:39
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVABI2N7HL6438J39KP023ZSXGGR
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Hundreds of communists staged a protest rally in India's northeastern Agartala on Friday (December 29) against the death sentence given to deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
U.S.-backed Iraqi television station Al Hurra said Saddam Hussein had been executed by hanging shortly before 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Saturday (December 30).
The former Iraqi president ousted in April 2003 by a U.S.- led invasion was convicted in November of crimes against humanity over the killings of 148 Shi'ite villagers from Dujail after a failed assassination bid in 1982.
An appeals court upheld the death penalty on Tuesday. Iraq's government has kept details of its plans to conduct the execution completely secret amid concerns it could spark a violent backlash from his former supporters.
Members of the state's ruling Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPI-M) held a rally to oppose Saddam's death sentence.
"Here we are protesting against the aggressive policy of U.S. President George W. Bush who is interfering in the sovereignty of another nation by giving death sentence to the Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. We want to make the peace loving people aware of the US policy and want India to intervene in order to stop the death sentence awarded to Saddam," said Sankar Datta, CPI-M leader.
India and several other countries have called on Iraq's government not to carry out the death sentence, saying it might obstruct the process of reconciliation and delay restoration of peace in Iraq.
U.N. human rights experts called on Iraq's government not to carry out the death sentence, saying Saddam's trial was seriously flawed.
Saddam's half-brother, Barzan al-Tikriti, and former judge Awad al-Bander also received the death penalty for their part in the killing, torture and deporting of hundreds of Dujailis. The court also rejected their appeals.
Many human rights and legal experts have argued that Saddam could not get a fair trial in a country torn by sectarian violence that has killed tens of thousands of Iraqis. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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