![Saddam reportedly accepted exile, legal immunity offer before Iraq war](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein accepted a last minute offer of exile from Arab leaders in 2003 just before the US-led invasion of Iraq, according to an Al Arabiya television [media website] documentary. According to the report, the deal could have averted war, but was thwarted when members of the League of Arab States [official website] refused to assent to the plan at an emergency summit. Saddam reportedly accepted the offer from United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Zayed [official profile], and it would have made him immune from legal process. Saddam's current trial before the Iraqi High Criminal Court [JURIST news archive] is scheduled to reconvene on November 28. Reuters has more.