AP: (U.S.) Judge Refuses to Block Iraqi Execution (of former VP)

Judge Refuses to Block Iraqi Execution

By MATT APUZZO
The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 27, 2007; 1:07 PM

WASHINGTON -- A U.S. judge on Tuesday refused to block the execution of Saddam
Hussein's former vice president, saying he had no jurisdiction to step into the case.

U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman said agreeing to the motion brought by Taha Yassin
Ramadan's lawyers would be tantamount to rejecting the verdict of an Iraqi trial court
and accepting defense claims it was unfair.

-snip-

He agreed with the Justice Department that the U.S. military is acting as a multinational
force holding Ramadan for Iraqi authorities and that U.S. courts do not have jurisdiction
to interfere in Iraq's judicial process.

-snip-

His lawyers argued he would be tortured if turned over to Iraqis. As evidence, they noted
the fate of Saddam and two other co-defendants already put to death.

-snip-