Talabani rules out signing Saddam death warrant

Iraq's new President Jalal Talabani said he would refuse to sign Saddam Hussein's death warrant if the former dictator was convicted of war crimes.

In an interview on Monday with the British Broadcasting Corp, Talabani said he opposed capital punishment on principle.

"Personally, no, I won't sign," he said in an online BBC report of the interview.

"But you know, the presidency of Iraq are three people. These three must decide. So I can be absent. I can go on holiday and let the two others (the vice-presidents) decide."

Talabani, a Kurd, was sworn in this month as Iraq's first democratically elected president in more than 50 years. The vice-presidents are Shi'ite Adel Abdul Mahdi and Sunni Arab tribal elder Ghazi Yawar.

Saddam and 11 aides face trial for war crimes at a special tribunal in Iraq. Trials are not expected to start until later this year at the earliest and the investigation into alleged crimes has been hampered by widespread insecurity.

Talabani said all other members of the new leadership, and the vast majority of Iraqis, favoured a swift execution for the ousted dictator.

"So I think I will be alone in this field, calling for a reprieve," he said.

Talabani, 71, may not be in office to deal with a reprieve. His administration will oversee the drafting of a new constitution by mid-August and hold elections in December. Any trial of Saddam is unlikely to conclude this year.

- REUTERS