Saddam's death sentence marks 'milestone' for Iraqis: US

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The United States called Saddam Hussein's upheld death sentence "a milestone" for Iraqis in the pursuit of justice, a White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. "Today marks a milestone for Iraqi people's efforts to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law," the spokesman said. An Iraqi appeals court said Saddam’s death sentence must be carried out within the next 30 days. “The Iraqis deserve praise for continuing to utilise the institutions of democracy to pursue justice,” Stanzel said. “Saddam Hussein has received due process and legal rights that he denied the Iraqi people for so long, so this is an important day for the Iraqi people.” Britain said its opposition to capital punishment was unchanged, after the Iraqi appeal court upheld the death sentence passed on former president Saddam Hussein, but the decision lay with Baghdad. “As the prime minister (Tony Blair) has made clear, it (Saddam’s execution) is entirely a matter for the independent Iraqi tribunal,” a foreign office spokesman in London said. “Our position is unchanged. We are opposed to the death penalty as a matter of principle but the decision is one for the Iraqi authorities.” India has appealed for leniency after ousted president Saddam Hussein’s death sentence was confirmed, reports said. “India hopes the death sentence against former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein will not be carried out,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.