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France makes demands and the US laughs hysterically
France demands no death penalty for terror suspect
France urged the United States on Wednesday to remove the threat of the death penalty for the first suspect indicted in the United States for conspiring with Osama bin Laden (news – web sites) on the September 11 attacks.
Justice Minister Marylise Lebranchu said France, which along with other European Union (news – web sites) partners has no death penalty, could not accept such a punishment for Zacarias Moussaoui, a Frenchman of Moroccan descent.
"Of course, no person benefiting from French consular protection should be executed," she told RMC radio.
Separately, a Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed France would take steps to ensure he was not executed if found guilty by a U.S. federal court.
"Yes, that stems from our general position on the death penalty," the spokesman told a regular news briefing.
France scrapped the death penalty in 1981.
Moussaoui, 33, took flying lessons in the United States and officials there believe he may have been preparing to join one of four hijacking teams. Almost 3,300 people died in the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
France urged the United States on Wednesday to remove the threat of the death penalty for the first suspect indicted in the United States for conspiring with Osama bin Laden (news – web sites) on the September 11 attacks.
Justice Minister Marylise Lebranchu said France, which along with other European Union (news – web sites) partners has no death penalty, could not accept such a punishment for Zacarias Moussaoui, a Frenchman of Moroccan descent.
"Of course, no person benefiting from French consular protection should be executed," she told RMC radio.
Separately, a Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed France would take steps to ensure he was not executed if found guilty by a U.S. federal court.
"Yes, that stems from our general position on the death penalty," the spokesman told a regular news briefing.
France scrapped the death penalty in 1981.
Moussaoui, 33, took flying lessons in the United States and officials there believe he may have been preparing to join one of four hijacking teams. Almost 3,300 people died in the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
I wonder what the French are thinking. Do they really think that we need thier permission to apply domestic laws to a criminal caught in our borders? FYI, the death penalty will be sought in the case. Any guesses on what the effects in France will be?
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