The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers says the trial of Saddam Hussein was neither impartial nor fair. Leandro Despouy said the former Iraqi president should be tried on appeal by an independent and impartial court, backed by the United Nations. Amnesty International’s Nicole Choueiry also criticized the court proceedings.

• Nicole Choueiry: “Well as a matter of principle, Amnesty International of course is opposed to the death penalty whether it’s handed down against Saddam Hussein or anyone else around the world. But in this case in particular the trial has been flawed from the outset and this is what makes it even more worrying that after such a flawed trial Saddam Hussein and two co-defendants should get the death penalty.”