UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says Saddam’s trial must follow “international norms and standards,” and that Saddam must not receive the death penalty.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Monday he does not support the death penalty for Saddam Hussein and emphasized any tribunal would have to meet international norms and standards.

Annan, who offered U.N. help in the judicial process, said he was encouraged by Bush administration comments that Saddam would be treated humanely “even though this is a treatment he in the past did not accord those who fell into his hands.”

But he said the world body has not supported the death penalty in any court it set up previously.

“So as secretary-general … I am not going to now turn around and support a death penalty,” he said.

The president of Iraq’s Governing Council, Abdelaziz al-Hakim, said in Paris that Saddam could face execution. He also said he recognized the need for an international role in the proceedings but gave no details.

Annan said it was essential that Saddam’s prosecution should be conducted under due process of law.

“It is essential and it is absolutely vital that all those responsible for these crimes should be brought to account,” he said. “I believe this should be done through open trials in properly established courts of law which will respect basic international norms and standards, including respect for international humanitarian law.”