Iraqi toppled President Saddam Hussein got expected death
sentence on Sunday, arousing protests among Sunnis and celebrations
among Shiites.
The apparent different reactions from the two divided sectors
seem to testify fears that the ruling can hardly bring peace to the
war-torn country, but more chaos.
A political verdict?
Local observers pointed out it is not a simple coincidence that
the verdict came two days before US congressional elections.
As Iraqi situation is deteriorating and spiraling out of
control, US President George W. Bush's Republicans are at risk of
losing control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In October, the US military witnessed the bloodiest month this
year, losing 105 soldiers, which prompted embattled Bush to
consider readjusting policy towards Iraq.
For the Bush administration, the verdict is definitely a "rare
good news" from Iraq, which is plagued by rampant tit-for-tat
attacks between Shiites and Sunnis, insurgent violence against US
troops.
"The ball is in the Americans' field," said Ali Mahmoud, a 55-
year-old lawyer, adding the United States wanted to show they made
great progress in defeating Saddam and brought democracy to the
Iraqi people.
This viewpoint is echoed by a former soldier under Saddam
regime, Ghassan Ibrahim, who denounced the verdict as "a political
one."
Spasm of violence feared
The verdict also unleashed the fear of a spasm of violence
targeting US military, the Iraqi authorities and rival sectors,
which will make the country more divided and closer to a civil
war.
Many Sunnis believed that the US government manipulated the
trial of their former leader for political benefits and the verdict
was unjust.
Though Saddam has been in jail for nearly three years, he is
still imposing some effect on Iraqi situation, because many Sunni
militants are former soldiers or intelligence officers during the
ruling of Saddam.
The Iraqi government has taken severe security measures in a bid
to avoid possible violence.
Law obstacles ahead
Local media reported that taking some law obstacles and current
volatile situation in Iraq into account, Saddam may not face
gallows soon.
Under the current Iraqi law, both the prosecution and the
defendant may appeal errors of law and procedure as well as
material errors of fact within 30 days after the judgment or
decision in question is issued. Death penalty and life sentence
automatically require review.
The review has no time limit but the death sentence, if upheld,
must be carried out within 30 days. That is to say, the execution
could last a long period of time, probably months or years.
Furthermore, the Iraqi Presidency Council consisting of
president and vice presidents must ratify any death sentence.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has made clear that he would not
sign death warrants. It is unclear whether Iraq's vice presidents
would like to follow suit.
(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2006)
