posted 21 years ago
Saddam gets asylum, war to end soon
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ TUESDAY,
APRIL 01, 2003 11:41:25 AM ]
NEW DELHI: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been
offered asylum by India, informed sources said on Tuesday.
According to the peace formula brokered by France,
which is vehemently opposed to the current war waged by the US to topple
the Iraqi ruler, Saddam will have step down first. As a second step he will
have to leave for India within 48 hours and stop the hostilities. In return,
he will be allowed to retain all his personal wealth deposited in foreign
banks. He will also get a one-time payment running into millions of dollars,
the source said.
Saddam, unconfirmed reports said, has accepted the offer, but wants to make
sure the US doesn't play spoilsport.
Sources said French President Jacques Chirac is in contact with the Iraqi
president. The peace moves, surprisingly, did not have the blessings of the
US. But now with a concrete peace proposal being put forward by France, the
US will find it difficult to carry on with the war.
In Delhi, the external affair ministry declined to comment on the sudden
developments.However, sources in the PMO have said that suitable
locations to house Saddam Hussein are being shortlisted. Some of the
options are Simla, Goa and Kumarakom.
A final decision on the location will be taken later
after the US gives its clearance to the peace plans, sources said.
But there is one hiccup to the plan which is given
below....
Today is April 1st...
regards<br />Rajeshwari. N