World 'boycotting' Saddam trial
From: Agence France-Presse From correspondents in Washington
December 14, 2005

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has bitterly accused the world community of boycotting the trial of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and doing little to help prosecute him.

In a speech to the Heritage Foundation think tank, Ms Rice named no countries and gave no specifics about a lack of support for the trial of Saddam and seven henchman charged in a 1982 massacre of Shiite Muslim villagers.
But after praising world backing for UN resolutions on Iraq, she said, "I'm sad to say that the international community has barely done anything to help Iraq prosecute Saddam Hussein."

"The international community's effective boycott of Sadadam's trial is only harming the Iraqi people who are now working to secure the hope of justice and freedom that Saddam long denied them," Ms Rice said.

The trial opened on October 19 with Iraqi judges and prosecutors trained largely with US and British help. But the proceedings have been interrupted by Saddam's theatrics and are currently adjourned until December 21.

The US has invested some $US128 million ($169.8 million) to train and equip the judges and lawyers in the trial against Saddam and the others on charges of crimes against humanity, according to Human Rights Watch.

This has prompted defense attorneys to frequently complain the tribunal has been created by a foreign occupying power that toppled Saddam in April 2003 and captured him 20 months later.

(snip)

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117....html?from=rss

Condi is certifiable!