In view of recent leaks to the press and in the absence of an official spokesman for the tribunal, I have been authorized to announce that the trial of Saddam Hussein will begin on October...

It will add another six months of an interim period transitional government, and a lot of people would like to get on with their lives.

At 10 am in Baghdad the first executions were carried out since the fall of the regime, against three criminals.

was supervising on a daily basis almost all the attacks that happened (in Baghdad). … He was fully responsible for preparing and sending the car bombs that killed hundreds of innocent Iraqis.

The Iraqi government is taking care of these families directly by supplying them with their needs. All the roads are open and the city is safe now as the Iraqi Red Crescent is working there.

There is a date set for October 19,

We do not know who was behind this operation. Is it designed to hinder the trial process or is it a case of vendetta?

The charges against Saddam are so many (and) regardless of how many years he is going to live, the charges and trials would not end.

We know well that either way, if it is a ‘yes’ or a ‘no,’ it is going to be a tough outcome that we need to handle.

Their message was that their government is unable to protect you from us. They want a reaction against Sunnis to therefore deepen the sectarian crisis in the country.

Iraqis cannot understand how Saddam has been held for nearly two years without trial. There’s plenty, plenty of evidence. What’s the holdup? People find it unacceptable.

We look to the boycott as a futile pressure on the court and the course of justice. We support the independence and transparency of the court totally.

The government is in a decisive war and we will continue regardless to how long it’s going to take. We think that they will increase their criminal acts more than what they are doing now...

This court will conduct according to international standards. We feel proud that we have real legal sovereignty in Iraq. We hope to rebuild national unity and rid ourselves of a dark page in Iraq’s past...

The charges against Saddam are so many. Regardless of how many years he is going to live, the charges and trials would not end,

The reason why the country is in such a mess is because one man stole the will of 27 million people for 35 years, and pushed them into wars and misery.

America has its own agenda in dealing with different cases and Iraq has its own program, but the government is paying more attention to this issue and investigating it.

I am sorry to say there are a lot of figures, not only senior regime members, but those who supervise the terrorist groups, in Jordan.

Muslim extremists will be surrounded then wiped out,

At 10 a.m. in Baghdad the first executions were carried out since the fall of the regime, against three criminals,

The idea is to try to sell this draft to the Sunnis. That’s what this is all about.

I think the differences have been narrowed down. I think they will be able to reach an agreement.

The Arab League has good connections to many parties in Iraq and can use these parties’ offices and power to back up the political process. These horizons are welcomed and will witness real support from...

It’s more or less a fait accompli that he’s not going back to office.

These are only desperate attempts by the terrorists, … If you take a look on the abilities of these terrorist groups and also take a look on the new support for Iraq, I believe that...

There should have been a vote last night, and they should now finish it today. The key point is terms of federalism. They’re trying to reach a compromise and it’s very difficult — the issues...

We urge anybody who has documents related to Saddam trial to present them to the tribunal.

The Iraqi government will do its best to arrest those people.

The draft that was submitted is approximately the draft that will be implemented.

We condemn this killing, which does not serve the interests of the trial or of the political process. We do not know who was behind this operation. Is it designed to hinder the trial process...

Whether we will succeed in getting it back, we don’t now. There’s a will to pursue this money.

The government is completely keen to make the constitutional process legitimate and of high credibility and we are concerned about the success of this process rather than the results of the referendum.

There are two visions of how to define Iraq. One looks at Iraq as a sovereign, undivided people. The other one looks at Iraq as more or less a confederation.

The government will not interfere in the judiciary process, but its duty is to provide these trials in order to provide justice for the people. We will not transfer the trial outside Iraq because all...

[Abu Azzam] was responsible for the planning and execution of countless attacks against Iraqi civilians and security forces as well as multi-national troops, using car bombs and direct violent attacks, … He is literally responsible...

My guess is if the court passes judgment, it should be implemented without further delay,

The government exerts its best efforts to provide security for all people and all those involved in the trial, but we cannot provide total security because of the violence in the country.

This is not an easy thing to do. Despite all the condemnation from states who want us to abolish capital punishment, I think capital punishment will help us deter some criminals.

This trial will give victims a real opportunity to get justice from these criminals. With this trial, we want Iraq to turn a new leaf.

This is the end of the road.

At 10 a.m. in Baghdad, the first executions were carried out since the fall of the regime, against three criminals.

rats spreading plague among the people.

They will be tried for the execution of 143 citizens.

We have a policy to go after Iraqi funds whether they were abused by members of the former government or spent by international bodies.

Even those members of this network who are arrested know nothing (about the organisation) except noms de guerre and symbols.

This is a difficult test. We have to ask who they are (the bombers) and what they want.

We can’t force anyone to have protection without his consent.

A delay is not a good thing, but it’s not a disaster.

Nobody said the terrorists can be defeated in one blow. It’s an incremental process. … It’s an ongoing battle, and Iraq has no choice but to put this fire down.

The first session for the trial will begin on Oct. 19.