Saddam trial should be based on international law: Iranian FM

The trial of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein should be based on the international law, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Tuesday.

    "Iraqi officials have said that arraignment has been raised against Saddam based on the Iraqi local laws but not in accordance with the international law," the official IRNA news agency quoted Kharazi as saying.

The minister stressed that he hoped in subsequent stages, the trail would be held in accordance with the international law. He also reiterated that the Iran-Iraq war should be included among Saddam's charges.

"One should not assume that he will be acquitted because his crimes have not been raised yet," Kharazi added.

The Judiciary and the Foreign Ministry were studying the case thoroughly and would do its utmost to defend its national rights, Kharazi said.

Saddam's trial began last Thursday, with charges against him including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Source: Xinhua