US President George W Bush has said that the captured former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein should pay the "ultimate penalty" for his crimes.
"This is a disgusting tyrant who deserves... the ultimate justice," he said in a US television interview.

His comments put the US sharply at odds with the United Nations and European allies who oppose the death penalty.

Earlier, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced the CIA would take charge of interrogating Saddam Hussein.

In the aftermath of the deposed leader's capture on Saturday, Mr Bush avoided answering questions on what punishment he wanted to see imposed.

But his latest comments confirm what most people believed were the Texan president's views, says the BBC's Justin Webb, in Washington.

"Let's just see what penalty he gets, but I think he ought to receive the ultimate penalty ... for what he has done to his people," Mr Bush told ABC News.

"I mean, he is a torturer, a murderer, they had rape rooms. This is a disgusting tyrant who deserves justice, the ultimate justice."

But the president said that he did not want a "kangaroo court", and that only the Iraqi people should decide what punishment their former leader deserved.

In other developments:

US forces say they are continuing a big operation to isolate and eliminate insurgents in the town of Samarra, north of Baghdad. They have already arrested more than 70 suspects;

United Nations chief Kofi Annan said the UN was ready to play its full part in helping Iraq, but "much greater clarity" was needed as to what was expected from it;

The interim Iraqi Foreign Minister appealed to the United Nations to move back to Iraq and help with its reconstruction.
Saddam 'resigned'

Earlier, Mr Rumsfeld said he had asked the CIA chief, George Tenet, to take responsibility for the interrogation of Saddam Hussein.

Mr Rumsfeld refused to comment on whether he had revealed any useful information so far and described the former leader's relationship with his captors simply as "resigned".

He was being accorded the protection of a prisoner of war, but his actual legal status was still being decided, Mr Rumsfeld said.

He also defended showing pictures of Saddam Hussein as a prisoner, undergoing medical checks.

"If lives can be saved by physical proof that that man is off the street, out of commission, never to return, then we opt for saving lives," Mr Rumsfeld said.

'Dead or alive'

There has been much speculation in the American media about the form that Saddam Hussein's interrogation might take.

In his television interview, President Bush said he did not know what precise techniques were being employed, but he said we do not use torture.

Mr Bush also had a warning for the US's most-wanted man - al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, saying he would be captured "dead or alive".

"We're on his trail, too. He's probably in a hole somewhere hiding from justice," Mr Bush said.


(Source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3326311.stm)

<font color = lightgreen>Fortunately, President Bush is entitled to voice his opinion. However, regardless of his opinion Hussein's ultimate fate will--or at least should--be in the hands of an Iraqi court. As the situation currently stands, Iraq allows for the death penalty, but we'll just have to see what happens.

What will the anti-death penalty proponents say if an Iraqi court decides that Hussein should be put to death? What will the pro-death penalty proponents say if an Iraqi court decides that Hussein should be locked away for life? Regardless of which way the cookie crumbles now, Hussein has become a non-issue, because his trial will be larger than he is.

The only thing surprising about this whole episode is that Hussein allowed himself to be caught. I thought he would have killed himself by now....</font>

Iraq will give him a fair trial (after a loooong time spent arguing about the forum, the rules, the this, the that) and then shoot him. ;)

The article doesn't mention that W. said whatever knowledge Saddam had, he wouldn't trust a word the man says.

<font color=deepskyblue>You're right, <font color=lime>Azred</font>. It will interesting to see how the anti-death penalty contingent reacts if the Iraqi court hands down that punishment. It will be difficult to blame President Bush for that outcome, although I'm sure a heroic effort will be made to do so nonetheless.

As for me, I would be perfectly happy if the Iraqi court opted to just lock Saddam Hussein up for the rest of his life. This is one case where I think a lifetime of confinement might actually be a worse punishment than the death penalty. Saddam will never recant or regret his actions, but he certainly will regret the loss of stature and status - going from the leader of the country to a common criminal locked away forever.

So I will be happy with either decision.</font>

Well luckily it isn't for Bush to decide. Since I am against death penalty I hope they'll spring for a life time in a basement, or perhaps a port-a-potty. :D

Cerek, if there is any involvement in this trial from Bush (or any other country) you bet I'd criticize the dang out of him. ;)

The Iraqiswill most likely go for the death penalty for two reasons. The first being the fact that the evil bastard just deserves to die, and second because of the nightmare of providing security to guard him.

I foresee a book deal from prison. ;)

I suggest they chain him and parade him down the streets while he is whipped with a wet noodle...

Don't you find it funny that Saddam Hussein will get a fairer trial than the detainees in Cuba?

Well Bush can say he wants Saddam to face the death penalty but its ultimately up to the Iraqis as most of ya said, course seeing how the somewhat draconian law works in many arab countries I don't think hes going to last long and Saddam knows it.