[lbo-talk] Russia should defend Saddam - Zhirinovsky

[Chris Doss]

Jul 2 2004 3:37PM
Russia should defend Saddam - Zhirinovsky
MOSCOW. July 2 (Interfax) - Russia should stand up in
defense of Saddam Hussein, who was taken to court in
Iraq on Thursday to hear the preliminary charges
brought against him, said Deputy Chairman of the State
Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky of the Liberal Democratic
faction. 

"There can't be any trial," Zhirinovsky said in an
interview with Interfax on Friday. Saddam Hussein is
"the legitimate chief of state," he said. 

Only the Iraqi people can answer whether Saddam
Hussein is guilty of the crimes he has been indicted
for, and a referendum should be held on this,
Zhirinovsky said. "Let the Iraqi people express their
attitude towards the president, and if they deem him
guilty of committing crimes during his rule, then he
can be tried." 

But Saddam is being tried by those who have no legal
right to do so, Zhirinovsky said. "This is a colonial
administration," he said. There is no elected
authorities in the country, and the constitution there
is provisional, and therefore "the trial is
illegitimate," Zhirinovsky said. 

"The trial will last a long time, and I believe many
judges will be killed by Iraqi patriots," he said.

		
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