Saturday, December 30, 2006
International reaction to Saddam's death
U.S. President George W. Bush was one of the first leaders to react. The U.S. president issued a written statement saying that the execution was a milestone for the Iraqi people and his trial was, in his words, "the kind of justice [Hussein] denied the victims of his brutal regime." But Bush said Hussein's execution will not end the violence in the country. Just a few hours after Bush's statement, a car bomb exploded in a market in the city of Kufa, killing at least 30 people. U.S. allies Australia and the United Kingdom expressed similar sentiments.
In London, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Hussein had been "held to account." She added, however, that the British government did not support capital punishment in Iraq or elsewhere. In Sydney, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said it was significant that Hussein was given "a proper trial" given the pain and suffering Hussein had caused Iraq.
His trial has been described by many human rights organizations as "deeply flawed." Richard Dicker, the director of the New York-based Human Rights Watch's international justice division, said that history will judge Hussein's trial and his execution "harshly." Iran hailed the hanging of Hussein as a deserved punishment for a man they say started a devastating eight-year war against the Islamic republic that left over 1 million people dead.
Speaking to reporters in Kabul, Afghan President Hamid Karzai gave a neutral reaction. "The execution of Iraq’s former president is the affair of Iraq’s government," he said. "We wish peace and prosperity and joy for the people of Iraq. It will not have any impact on Afghanistan." But many countries and leaders have condemned Hussein's execution. In Libya, the government of Moammar Gadhafi announced a three-day official mourning period.
In Rome, the Vatican said the execution was "tragic" and risked feeding "the spirit of vengeance." Russia also condemned the death of the former Iraqi leader and expressed concern that it could trigger a new wave of violence. The EU said that it condemns "the crimes committed by Saddam and also the death penalty." The EU's aid and development commissioner Louis Michel said the execution was "barbaric" and said it may turn Hussein into a martyr.
In Rome, the Vatican said the execution was "tragic" and risked feeding "the spirit of vengeance." Russia also condemned the death of the former Iraqi leader and expressed concern that it could trigger a new wave of violence. The EU said that it condemns "the crimes committed by Saddam and also the death penalty." The EU's aid and development commissioner Louis Michel said the execution was "barbaric" and said it may turn Hussein into a martyr.
In Iraq, many celebrated Hussein's execution. The residents of the predominantly Shi'ite Al-Sadr City were singing and dancing in the streets. But members of Iraq's Sunni minority have expressed anger at the way the ousted Iraqi leader was treated. There are fears that Hussein's execution will further anger the Sunnis, who were dominant under his rule. Today, Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki urged followers of the ousted regime to join the political process. In a statement, al-Maliki said that "the door is still open to anyone who has no innocent blood on his hands." Al-Maliki, who is struggling to contain the soaring sectarian violence that has pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war, said Hussein's demise should now give way to reconciliation.
