UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said he does not support the death penalty for Saddam Hussein and emphasised any trial of the deposed dictator must meet international norms and standards.
Mr Annan, who offered UN 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."
Annan said the former Iraqi leader had "cast a rather long shadow" over the country as it moves toward self-rule.
"With his capture, that shadow has been removed and I hope this will help us move ahead with the transition period and also accelerate the process of reconciliation and attempts to establish a provisional Iraqi government that is inclusive and transparent," he told reporters.
US Ambassador to the UN, Mr John Negroponte, said earlier that Washington hoped for Security Council support for its timetable to transfer political power to Iraqis in July.
"I think an affirmation or affirmations of support for the political, economic and security development of Iraq would be most welcome indeed and most appropriate under the circumstances," he said.
But Mr Negroponte told reporters he did not expect a resolution from the council, which tomorrow reviews the timetable for establishing a new Iraqi provisional government.
It will also hear from Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari.
The council approved a terse statement this evening welcoming Saddam's capture, reflecting members' wary approach to continued US pleas to provide political and financial aid for Iraq and forgive some of its debts.