Kuala Lumpur, 17 June (AKI) - The former Malaysian prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad told reporters that the fallen Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein should get a fair trial or else the United States will be able to "get away with murder" and capture any world leader it wants to. Mahathir made the remarks while announcing details of the international Emergency Committee for Iraq that was formed this week to ensure a fair trial for Saddam and other officials of the former Iraqi regime.

"We are interested to see that justice is done, even in the case of Saddam Hussein, because a principle is about to be set here," said Mahathir.

According to the Malaysian Bernama news agency, the Emergency Committee for Iraq is co-chaired by Mahathir, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, former Algerian president Ahmed Ben Bella and former French foreign minister Roland Dumas.

Speaking about the American presence in Iraq, Mahathir said that the US occupation of Iraq set a dangerous precedent.

"If it is accepted that the people who launch a war, (and) capture heads of governments can then put this head of government on trial, then other heads of governments will face this danger," he said.


"Supposing they decide to invade Syria then (President Bashar Assad) would be caught and accused of mass killings and things like that. Again there will be a trial and he is going to be found guilty even before anything is done," said Mahathir.

Mahathir, prime minister of Malaysia for 22 years until 2003, making him one of Asia's longest serving leaders, had the reputation of being a blunt-speaking pragmatist who often spoke out against the West, but at the same time cooperated in the fight against terror.

The former Malaysian leader also spoke about the need to question American president George W. Bush's policy in Iraq.

"Otherwise he is going to get away with murder because he does anything he likes....on the basis that he is very strong therefore no one should even comment on what he does," he said.

"WE need to create an awareness. If you don't create awareness it will be silent acquiescence, the acceptance of the behavious of a great, great power when it comes to thir abuse of international norms," said Mahathir.

Saddam Hussein, captured in December 2003, is being held at an undisclosed location together other members of his former regime. They will be tried by the Iraqi Special Tribunal that was set up in late 2003.

If convicted of the charges - which involve the chemical attack on the Kurdish village of Halabja in 1988, where around 5,000 Kurds were killed in a single day, the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and the repression of Shiites in 1991 - the former dictator will face the death penalty.