Iraq’s neighbors join call for swift Saddam trial News
Iraq’s neighbors join call for swift Saddam trial

[JURIST] Interior ministers from Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan joined Tuesday in calling for a swift start to the trial of Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive] after the Iraqi Special Tribunal [official website, JURIST news archive] filed its first charge [JURIST report] against the former Iraqi president on Sunday. A joint communique issued at the end of the meeting stressed the importance of "accelerating the process of bringing to justice in Iraq, Saddam Hussein and all those in the leadership of the previous Iraqi regime who have committed crimes against humanity." Meanwhile in Baghdad Iraqi President Jalal Talabani also urged a swift trial [AP report], arguing that a conviction could help reduce insurgent attacks significantly, once the insurgents realize Saddam will not be coming back to power. AP has more.