The German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was categorical:...

The German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was categorical: "I am against the death penalty, in all cases. Even for a dictator like Saddam Hussein, who treated people in the worst way imaginable". Schroeder's comments on what Saddam's fate should be were taken from an interview in the German weekly Bild am Sonntag.
The Spanish President José Maria Aznar was clear in his point. He expressed his views against the death penalty, for Saddam or anyone else, whist visiting troops in Iraq on December 20. While paying his respect to Spanish soldiers killed in Iraq, Aznar said the ex-dictator should be tried in Iraq but under international supervision.
On the other hand, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi did not make a stance. During the customary end of year press conference on December 20, a journalist asked him if he was in agreement with US President George Bush, who hinted that Saddam should be put to death. His reply was: "I believe it is hard to assume what the penalty should be, even knowing the atrocious crimes reported by the Iraqi population following an over thirty year dictatorship like that of Saddam Hussein." He however added that, "I am totally in favour of and partisan to the idea of an Iraqi court trying Saddam Hussein under Iraqi law".
It is known that were he to be tried in Iraq, Saddam would risk the death penalty, whist for crimes of war or crimes against humanity international law does not provide for the death penalty.
The Belgian Cardinal, Godfried Danneels, has instead opted for a symbolic solution to the question. The cardinal argued during a television debate on December 21 that the "legal notion" of the death penalty should be upheld for the most serious crimes. "Pronouncing the death penalty is symbolically important, but I naturally cannot agree to them being carried out," Danneels, a possible successor to Pope John Paul II, said during the debate.