the top UN envoy in Iraq urged the Shiite-led government to treat imprisoned Saddam Hussein-era figures

the top UN envoy in Iraq urged the Shiite-led government to treat imprisoned Saddam Hussein-era figures fairly after the American military hands them over as part of a detainee transfer required under a new security pact. Staffan de Mistura, the UN's special representative in Iraq, called for the high-profile figures and other detainees to be given due process, "if possible with some international observation." He also reiterated the UN's opposition to capital punishment. "The wish of the UN is that the death penalty is not applied," he explained. De Mistura said the upcoming transfer of detainees was a chance for Iraqi authorities to "send a signal that they are joining the human rights environment" by treating them fairly.