Mixed reaction to Saddam’s death
The execution this morning of former Iraqi leader Saadam Hussein has drawn criticism across the international community.
However other countries have insisted that justice has been served and claimed the former Iraqi dictator had a fair trial.
International human rights organisations have sharply criticised the execution and the trial which handed down the sentence.
Amnesty International said it deplored the use of the death penalty, and while it welcomed the decision to hold the Iraqi dictator to account - it believed it should have been done under a fair process.
Human Rights Watch has called the execution a “cruel and inhumane punishment”, following a “deeply flawed” trial.
“The test of a government's commitment to human rights is measured by the way it treats its worst offenders. History will judge these actions harshly,” according to Richard Dicker, director of Human Rights Watch's International Justice Program.
The EU has also spoken out against the execution, saying the organisation opposes the death penalty and said it should not be applied in Saddam’s case “even though there is no doubt about his guilt over serious violations against human rights.”
The Vatican has called Saddam’s death a ‘tragic event,’ despite his grave crimes aginast humanity.
Countries such as Russia, South Africa, and Indonesia have also spoken out against the execution and expressed concern that the former dictator’s death could spark further violence across Iraq.
However US President George W. Bush said was satisfied that justice has been served.
“Saddam Hussein's execution comes at the end of a difficult year for the Iraqi people and for our troops,” he said.
“Bringing Saddam Hussein to justice will not end the violence in Iraq, but it is an important milestone on Iraq's course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain and defend itself, and be an ally in the war on terror.”
Isreal has expressed its support of the execution and said that Saddam had brought about his own demise.
There have been celebrations by Iraqi expatriates in Australia at Saddam’s death and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said even though his country did not support the death penalty, it felt Saddam had a fair trial.
