United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Monday that the captured former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein should be brought to account for "heinous crimes" he was accused of having committed during his decades of rule.  

"Saddam Hussein has also been accused of heinous crimes, including gross and systematic violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. It is essential and absolutely vital that all those responsible for these crimes should be brought to account," Annan told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.

"I think this should be done through open trials in properly established courts of law, which will respect basic international norms and standards," he said.

Saddam's arrest is a "positive" development because he "has cast a rather long shadow over the transition process," the UN chief said. "With his capture, that shadow has been removed."

Annan hoped that Saddam's fall will help move forward the transition period and accelerate the process of reconciliation and attempts to establish a provisional Iraqi government.

But the UN chief voiced his objection to imposing a death penalty on Saddam, who was found by US troops Saturday in a hole in a town south of his hometown Tikrit, northern Iraq.

"The UN does not support the death penalty. All the courts we've set up have not included the death penalty," he said. "So, as secretary-general, as the UN, as an organization, we are not going to turn around and support the death penalty."

Annan's statement came hours after US President George W. Bush said the United States would consult with the Iraqi Governing Council on an open trial of Saddam.

In Paris, Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, the rotating chair of the Governing Council, said Saddam could face death penalty when he goes on trial in Iraq.

Hakim said Saddam will be tried by the special tribunal set up by the Council last week to hear cases against key associates in his regime. When asked whether the death penalty could be applied, he answered, "Yes. Absolutely."

It remains unknown whether the Iraqi Governing Council would seek UN assistance in trying Saddam.

During his encounter with the press, Annan also stressed that the capture of Saddam would not necessarily mean the return of UN staff to Iraq.

"The only thing that will hasten the UN's return is the establishment of a secure environment, and if the capture of Saddam Hussein leads to that development, it will helpful," he said.

He said the key to restoration of stability in Iraq would be end of the occupation. "My own judgment, the key will be the end of the occupation; that will offer no incentive for those who are saying they are fighting the resistance to continue fighting, if the occupation ends."

Also on Monday, President of the UN Security Council Stephan Tafrov of Bulgaria said in a statement that council members welcomed the capture of Saddam.

The council will hold an open meeting Tuesday to discuss a report from Annan on Iraq. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari will join the session and deliver a speech.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2003)