This draft must be presented to the people.

this is not a tragedy. It will only delay us for six months and we will start from scratch.

These insurgents are like rats spreading plague among the people. Rats are very small, but the disease they spread is horrible. Iraq should be rid of these dirty rats.

If you would think that all the Sunni Arabs on the constitutional drafting committee would say, ‘OK, we agree with the others’ … I think this is an illusion. I think that consensus is almost...

The Iraqi Governing Council was appointed by the U.S. and very much wanted to extend its power and influence.

We think (a boycott) would weaken Iraq because the only way that Iraq can recover is done by concentrating on the political process, writing the constitution and participating in it, … Any act that calls...

the Iraqi government is committed to protecting the judges, the witnesses, lawyers, and all those who are involved in the trial of Saddam Hussein, and will not be deterred from pursuing the trial.

This is the end of the road. In the end, we will put this constitution to the people to decide.

will be implemented immediately . . . He could be executed after the first round.

It’s been a good day for Iraq.

The people we are confronting are rats, spreading disease and death among the people,

There are so many charges against Saddam, … I don’t think there will be an end to the charges. If the court convicts him, I think they will sentence him to death, and the decision...

we know that Saddam and his followers are ready to do anything when it serves their interest and to block the work of the court.

There is a date set for October 19. They will be tried for the execution of 143 citizens.

This court will conduct the case 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...

It was a difficult decision because we are living in a democratic atmosphere. This is the highest punishment taken against people who have conducted assassinations, and it aims at deterring criminals from going too far...

Although the rats are small, the disease they are carrying is harmful and there is no cure except confrontation.

It is regrettable to say that until now there are big numbers of elements, not only former regime elements, but supervisors of some terrorist groups who are now in Jordan.

But the government strongly wants this trial to continue in Iraq,

Justice must follow its course and we must guarantee the conditions for a just and transparent trial,

The sooner we get the constitution over and done with, the faster we can move at rebuilding the state and rebuilding the country. So a delay is not a good thing, but it’s not a...

a waste of time.

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.