by TChris

Iraq's interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, said Monday that Saddam Hussein will be turned over to the interim government within the next two weeks, but the White House will say only that Hussein's custody will be transferred at "an appropriate time."

Whether that "appropriate time" will arrive before Iraq becomes (sorta) sovereign on June 30 is unclear. President Bush says he's seeking "security assurances" before handing over Hussein.

"We want to make sure that he (Saddam) doesn't come back to power. And so therefore, it's a legitimate question to ask of the interim government: 'How are you going to make sure he stays in jail?' And that's the question I'm asking.

Answer: lock the door?

Update: UPI reports that the U.S. is likely to hold Hussein beyond the June 30 transfer of (at least a little) power. This despite a warning by the International Committee of the Red Cross that detaining Hussein after Iraq (kinda) regains its sovereignty could violate the Geneva Conventions.