Custody of Saddam to be given to Iraq Wed.: Allawi

Custody of former president Saddam Hussein will be handed over to Iraq on Wednesday, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference, Allwi said that the Iraqi government will take over legal custody of Saddam Hussein and other 11 top Baathist officials on Wednesday but the US military will retain physical custody.

Iraqi legal proceedings against Saddam would begin within a few days and will receive a "fair trial", but his trial would not start for several months, Allawi told the reporters, adding his government has formally requested the transfer of the most notorious and high profile detainees.

It was reported that after the handover, US forces will retain physical custody of Saddam until Iraqi forces are in a position to detain him securely.

Source: Xinhua