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.

I’m sure once we have an elected assembly and a government for a four-year term, they’ll be looking at all these issues.