- WASHINGTON - The United States
and a number of Arab countries have drawn up plans for the exile of Saddam
Hussein to a neutral country to avoid an invasion that could lead to massive
number of civilian deaths. Planners in the Near East division of the US
State Department have looked at various scenarios under which the Iraqi
president would cede power to a democratic government and then leave the
country. President Saddam has angrily dismissed such suggestions - made
to him by third parties.
-
- "We have to look at all scenarios," a senior
State Department official told The Independent on Sunday. "We are
still trying to sort it out." The official said US policy calls for
Saddam to be "brought to justice". But he added that if the exile
option could be shown to prevent a massive loss of civilian life as the
result of a military operation, and that power was ceded to a truly alternative
government, it would be considered.
-
- "There would have to be real change. He could not
simply hand over to his son." Which countries would take President
Saddam is unclear. One US source suggested Algeria or Mauritania might
be options. The source added: "North Korea and China might also take
him. China might do it just to piss us off." The Iraqi leader has
said he would not agree to any such plan.
-
- It is understood that when Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad
Al-Thani raised the prospect during a meeting in August, Saddam angrily
asked him to leave. "We know the meeting took place, but we don't
know what happened in the room. That is just speculation," said a
spokesman for Qatari Embassy in Washington.
-
- Disclosure of the exile plan came as Baghdad rejected
the draft UN resolution for which Britain and the US are seeking international
backing.
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