MIN. DIF. INGLESE HOON: NO A PENA DI MORTE PER OSAMA

         Sar� consegnato a Usa solo in cambio di "impegni precisi" Roma 10 dic. (Ap.Biscom) - Niente sedia elettrica o iniezione mortale per Bin Laden. Almeno se i primi a mettergli il sale sulla coda saranno gli inglesi.

  I soldati dei corpi speciali britannici stanno sulle tracce di bin Laden. Gli uomini delle Sas, accanto ai Marines Usa e ai miliazioni afgani, battono palmo a palmo le montagne bianche e le caverne di Tora Bora. Ma se saranno proprio gli inglesi a catturare bin Laden, lo sceicco saudit� sar� consegnato agli Usa solo se questi si impegnaranno a non applicare la pena di morte.

   Lo ha detto il ministro della difesa inglese Geoff Hoon che ha specificato: l'estradizione negli Usa sar� subordinata al fatto che le autorit� americane prendano "alcuni impegni precisi".

Evidente l'allusione alla pena di morte.

  Nel caso bin Laden venisse catturato dalle truppe inglesi, ha detto quindi il ministro Hoon, "credo che sarebbe molto importante rispettare le leggi internazionali... noi concediamo l'estradizione a paesi in cui � in vigore la pena di morte solo a determinate condizioni e in cambio di impegni precisi. Non vedo perch� non dovrebbe essere cos� anche questa volta".

Daily telegraph - 11/12/2001

Britain could face dilemma over bin Laden death penalty

By Philip Johnston

The hunt continues in Afghanistan for Osama bin Laden. But if he were captured by the British rather than American troops or Afghani fighters what would be his fate?Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, was rebuked by Downing Street at the weekend for suggesting that if the al-Qa'eda leader fell into British hands he would not be handed over to the Americans because they would execute him.No 10 later issued a "clarification" insisting that it had always been the case that if bin Laden were captured by British special forces in the field he would be passed on to the Americans for them to deal with.However, if for some reason bin Laden ended up in Britain, this would present the authorities with a considerable dilemma. He would be arrested under a warrant issued by the Americans for his role in the September 11 atrocities and also for the bombings of two embassies in Africa in 1998.But he would not be extradited unless America gave an undertaking that he would not be executed if found guilty.This reflects Britain's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights but is also enshrined in a 1986 agreement between the two governments that extradition may be refused unless America "gives satisfactory assurances that the death penalty will not be carried out".This position was set out clearly in the Lords recently by Lord Rooker, the Home Office minister. He said: "Where a country has the death penalty, we will not return anyone to that country unless we receive confirmation that the death penalty will not be exercised."That is perfectly normal . . . It is acceptable to the United States. It is not a problem."Asked directly what would happen if bin Laden came to this country as an illegal immigrant, was subsequently arrested and America demanded his extradition, Lord Rooker said: "The case would go through due process because we have an extradition treaty with the United States."He added: "Provided all the legal technicalities involved with the warrant are completed to the satisfaction of the British courts and provided that the United States . . . gives an assurance that the person concerned would face justice but would not be executed that person could be extradited."Not only would assurances over the death penalty be sought, the extradition procedure itself could also take years.Three of bin Laden's alleged lieutenants are still in jail in Britain awaiting extradition for the African embassy bombings more than two years after their arrest.In their case, America has already agreed to waive the death penalty if guilt is proven.

Bin Laden 'must not face death penalty'

By Kim Sengupta

10 December 2001

The Government said yesterday it would hand over Osama bin Laden for trial in the United States only if he would not face the death penalty.

 Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, saidAmerica was the correct location for any trial of the prime suspect in the September 11 bombings, if he was captured by British troops.

 As a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, Britain does not extradite suspects to countries that use the death penalty unless assurances are secured that they will not face execution.

 "I believe that it would be important to respect the international legislation relevant to those circumstances," Mr Hoon told BBC Television. He restated Britain's readiness to provide troops for an international peace-keeping force in Afghanistan but played down reports that 10,000 UK troops might be involved in a 50,000-strong force, saying: "I don't believe that any one country will have such a large number."

 The impending announcement of an international force comes as the Northern Alliance commander, General Abdul Rashid Dostum, said he would co-operate with the proposed interim administration in Kabul despite his unhappiness at the low number of "ministries'' his Junbish-I-Mill faction received at the Bonn talks.

 Yesterday, the Uzbek warlord told US officials he would not jeopardise the administration, although he maintains that Uzbeks are not fairly represented on it.

 General Dostum said it was a "humiliation" that he had been given the agriculture, mining and industry portfolios instead of the foreign ministry he had demanded.

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