The United States would not object to Saddam Hussein...

The United States would not object to Saddam Hussein facing the death penalty in an upcoming trial if it is fairly conducted, a senior State Department official said.
"It is clearly for the Iraqis to decide - they need to decide this issue. He victimized that entire population, so the Iraqis will have to make the decision and will have to have a say in what they believe the appropriate punishment should be," the official said on condition of anonymity.
"From our perspective, we want to see a fair, transparent and credible process unfold ... and if that occurs, whatever punishment that they deem is appropriate, as long as it is fairly administered then we will be satisfied."
The chairman of Iraq's governing council, Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, said Saddam, captured by US troops near his home town Tikrit, would be tried by Iraqi judges in a special court set up last week to deal with war crimes cases.
Hakim said Saddam could face the death penalty if convicted, but there is considerable international opposition to such a fate.