» Thursday, May 27, 2004
Abu Hamza Arrest
Asked about the US Attorney General's comments that Abu Hamza would face the death penalty and whether this would be a factor in the extradition process the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) said that he didn't want to comment on the individual case for obvious legal reasons. However, he would like to point out the general nature of our extradition arrangements with the US. In such circumstances, while it may be correct that an offence in the US carried the death penalty the US were aware that because of our extradition arrangements with them that the Secretary of State could not order extradition in a case where an offence might be punishable by death, unless he received adequate written assurances that such a sentence could not be imposed, or if imposed would not be carried out. The PMOS said that it was his understanding that this did not mean that the extradition could not take place but it did mean a written assurance was needed in such cases. This was part of our extradition arrangements with the US, which he believed had been updated this year, though journalists should check that with the Home Office. Asked whether the written assurance was received before or after the proceedings had started the PMOS said his understanding was that it would come latter on in the process.
Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (7)
Troops
Asked if he could help characterise the announcement made today by Geoff Hoon and whether it should be seen in the context of improving security before the handover of sovereignty the PMOS stated for the purposes of clarity that today's announcement was the result of recommendations made from British commanders in the field in our particular area, about the needs in our particular area. That should be distinguished from the consultation in progress with our coalition partners about the overall strategic position as we move towards 30 June and Iraqi-isation of the position. Those strategic discussions were continuing and should not be confused with today's announcement. Today's announcement was the result of an assessment on the ground of our needs, particularly in the run up to 30 June where increased attempts by terrorists and others to inflict casualties on the coalition forces were expected. This was because they wanted to disrupt the handover to a sovereign Iraqi Government. There had always been this expectation and today's announcement should be seen in that light.
Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)
United Nations
Asked if there was any reaction to French and Chinese comments seeking a firm deadline for withdrawal of troops in the resolution the PMOS said that it was best not to give a running commentary on negotiations at the UN. All he could say was that the feedback from the UN this morning had been that progress was being made and that the atmosphere was constructive. Asked if the Prime Minister had any plans to go to the UN the PMOS said that there were no plans in the diary for such a visit.
Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (4)
Prime Minister
Asked if the Prime Minister was taking a break next week the PMOS said the Prime Minister would take a short break over the weekend, but would be back at his desk in Downing Street next week.
Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)
Troops
Asked if the Defence Secretary would be making a statement on troops the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said that it was likely to be at 12.30pm but he did not want to pre-empt that statement. For guidance purposes it would be an operational statement rather than the result of strategic discussions with our coalition partners, which were continuing.
Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)
Abu Hamza Arrest
Asked if the Prime Minister had any reaction to the arrest of Abu Hamza the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman told journalists that it was entirely a matter for the legal authorities and therefore it would be totally wrong for him to make any comment.
Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)
Prime Minister
Asked if the Prime Minister was taking any time off next week the PMOS said no, the Prime Minister was in Manchester today, he would be out again tomorrow and that he would continue to work next week.
Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (0)
Real IRA
Asked if the Prime Minister was concerned about the RIRA judgement today the PMOS said that it was a matter for the Northern Ireland Office, but that it was the Government's view that the law did meet this point. However, it was a matter for the relevant authorities to consider this judgement and what action to take as a result of it. It was only appropriate for those relevant authorities to make their decision before any announcement were made.
Briefing took place at 11:00 | Read whole briefing | Comments (2)
» Wednesday, May 26, 2004
Iraq
Asked about comments by the Professor of International Law at Oxford who had said there was still a difference in the US position as set out by Colin Powell and the Prime Minister's, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) pointed that he didn't think the professor had been part of the conversations held between the President and the Prime Minister.
Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comment (1)
Amnesty Report
Asked what the Prime Minister's reaction to the amnesty report that criticised the war on terror as being the worst attack on human rights since the second world war the PMOS said that the Government would no doubt want to study the report in full before making any response and he would not comment on phrases seemingly designed to make headlines. If it came to considering the worst atrocities against human rights one would have to take into account what Saddam did in terms of 400,000 mass graves in Iraq and you would also have to take into account what Al Qaeda did in one day in America.
Briefing took place at 15:45 | Read whole briefing | Comments (4)
Original PMOS briefings are © Crown Copyright. Crown Copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland. Click-use licence number C02W0004089. Material is reproduced from the original 10 Downing Street source, but may not be the most up-to-date version of the briefings, which might be revised at the original source. Users should check with the original source in case of revisions. Comments are © Copyright contributors. Everything else is © Copyright Downing Street Says.
Search
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| « Apr | Jun » | |||||
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 | ||||||
Supported by
Recent Briefings
- Briefings are now secret.
- Syrian refugee resettlement
- Syria
- Scotland
- Independence referendum
- Trade Union Bill (No.2)
- Syria
- Northern Ireland
- Syria
- Syria
Archives
- December 2015
- September 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 1970
- November 1900
- October 1900
- August 1900
- February 1900
- January 1900
- June 111
- May 111
- April 111
- March 111
- February 111
- January 111
- 111
- November 110
- October 110
- September 110
- August 110
- July 110
- June 110
- May 110
- April 110
- March 110
- February 110
- January 110
- 110
- November 109
- October 109
- September 109
- August 109
- June 109
- May 109
- 0
Links
Syndicate (RSS/XML)
Credits
Enquiries
Contact Sam Smith.