§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom was consulted by(a) the United States Administration and (b) the interim Iraqi Government in respect of the arrangements made for the first appearance in court of Saddam Hussein; whether he was made aware in advance that only US media would be permitted in the court for the former President of Iraq's appearance; and whether he plans to consult the interim Iraqi Government over the access to the court by other than US media companies in future hearings of former members of the Iraq Government. [184396]
§ Mr. RammellUK, US and Iraqi officials discussed in advance the media arrangements for the arraignment of Saddam Hussein. The media representatives present in the courtroom were there as a press pool. They included representatives of Al-Jazeera (pan-Arab satellite television) and Al-Iraqiya (Iraqi satellite television).
68WWe have also been consulted on the arrangements for the next court appearance. The Baghdad press corps have themselves selected the proposed media pool.