Tariq As Was:

by Englishman 2 Replies latest jw friends

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  Englishman

  TARIQ AZIZ IN ASYLUM BID
  
  Iraq's former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz is reported to be seeking asylum in Britain in exchange for information on Saddam Hussein's regime.
  
  
  According to a report in The Sun, Mr Aziz told his American interrogators that he was willing to tell all if he could have asylum in the UK.
  
  But the Home Office has scotched the speculation saying it was "ridiculous."
  
  A spokeswoman said that a home in Britain for the 67-year-old was not on the negotiating table.
  
  'Asylum'
  
  "It is ridiculous to suggest asylum will be granted to an individual who has been involved in activities that have abused the human rights of others," she said.
  
  Governments normally have to consider all asylum applications, but the 1951 Refugee Convention makes an exception of war criminals.
  
  "We do not have to consider it," she said.
  
  CIA interrogators believe Mr Aziz may know what became of other leading regime figures, including Saddam himself, and the location of weapons of mass destruction.
  
  A military source said: "He knows a lot and we hope he's going to share some of it.
  
  "It may be he is offered some sort of deal for pointing the Coalition in the right direction, but it depends on whether he wants to co-operate."
  
  'Willing'
  
  US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that the Coalition intended to discuss with Mr Aziz "whatever he's willing to discuss with us".
  
  Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Mr Aziz should provide "important information" about Saddam Hussein's rule.
  
  Mr Aziz, number 43 on the list of most wanted Iraqi officials, was a well known face of Saddam's Iraq because of his articulate English.
  
  His family said he had negotiated with US forces for several days before surrendering on Thursday.
  
  He had sought assurances that he would be treated in a dignified manner and receive medical care, his sister is reported to have said.
  
  Englishman.
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  Simon

  mmn ... well the Al Quida guy who got $20-odd million for information apparently has come here. Why not another one ...
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  Shutterbug

  Why not send him to France ?? The French have been playing footsie with the very brutal regime in Iraq, which Tariq was a part of, for some thirty years. I suspect, however, the people of France don't want him either since he can no longer help them. Bug