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Bush: Saddam's Execution Important Milestone' for Iraq

By VOA News
30 December 2006

President Bush has called the execution of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein an "important milestone" for Iraq on its path to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain and defend itself.

Mr. Bush says Saddam's death marks the end of a difficult year for the Iraqi people, but warned it "will not halt the violence in Iraq." The president also noted the ousted dictator received a fair trial - something denied to Iraqis under Saddam's "tyrannical rule." Mr. Bush's remarks were issued from his ranch in Crawford, Texas shortly after Saddam's death was announced.

Britain said Saddam had been "held to account" for some of his crimes against the Iraqi people. France called on Iraqis to work towards reconciliation and national unity.

Japan and Australia, both opposed to the death penalty, each issued statements saying they respected Iraq's decision to execute Saddam.

One of Saddam's attorneys Curtis Doebbler told CNN television the ousted Iraqi leader did not get a fair trial.

The U.S.-based group Human Rights Watch said the trial was "deeply flawed," and condemned Saddam's hanging as "cruel and inhuman," despite his "horrific and widespread human rights violations."

Meanwhile, CNN showed images of Arab-Americans celebrating and waving Iraqi flags in Dearborn, Michigan in the northern U.S. Some of the revelers who had lost family members during Saddam's brutal regime said they hoped the former dictator's death would result in peace in Iraq.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters