Special report: Tension escalates in
Iraq
Execution of Saddam
Hussein
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Ali Hassan al-Majid, Saddam Hussein's
cousin, discusses prosecution evidence during his trial in Baghdad Jan. 8,
2007. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)
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Gallery>>> |
BAGHDAD, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Presidential
Council has approved the execution of Ali Hassan al-Majid, one of former
dictator Saddam Hussein's main aides and his cousin notorious for use of
poisonous gas against Kurds, Iraqi official television reported on Friday.
"The Iraqi Presidential Council has approved the
execution of convicted Ali Hassan al-Majid for his involving in crimes against
humanity during the Anfal Operations in 1980s," the Iraqi state-run channel
said.
The council approved the death sentence of Chemical
Ali two days ago and his execution would be carried out within 30 days, it said,
without telling the fate of two other convicts who were also sentenced to death
by an Iraqi court on June 24 last year for their role in the killing of
thousands of Kurdish minority during a crackdown in 1980s.
Nassir al-Ani, head of the presidency council, told
Xinhua that he did not receive an official letter about the approval of Majid's
execution, but he did not deny the information.
"Yes, I know about the approval of Majid's execution
but I don't have an official letter about it yet," Nassir al-Ani told Xinhua.
The Presidency Council, which comprises of President
Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and his two deputies, Tariq al-Hashimi, a Sunni Arab and
Adel Abdul-Mahdi, a Shiite, has blocked the execution of Ali Hassan al-Majid and
the two others.
On Sept. 4, 2007, an Iraqi appeals court upheld the
death sentences to "Chemical Ali" and Saddam's former defense minister Sultan
Hashim and former army commander Hussein Rashid Muhammad over charges of crimes
against humanity during the military campaign of Anfal, in which tens of
thousands of Kurds were allegedly killed.
The three-member council did not oppose the hanging
of Majid, but they had a disagreement over whether the other two convicts should
face the same fate as Chemical Ali.
The U.S. military, which has the custody of former
members of Saddam's senior officials, including Chemical Ali, said it was aware
of the Iraqi presidency council action but had not received a request from the
Iraqi government to hand them over.
"We have not yet received a government of Iraq (GOI)
request in this regard," the U.S. military said in a statement received by
Xinhua.
"Our position remains that we will comply with a
request to transfer custody once the GOI has arrived at a consensus as to the
legal process that must be followed with regard to these executions," the
military said.
Under the former Iraqi regime led by Saddam Hussein,
more than 100,000 of civilians were killed during chemical and conventional
bombardments stretching from the spring of 1987 through the fall of 1988.
The attacks were part of a long-standing campaign
that destroyed almost 4,000 Kurdish villages in the vast areas of northern Iraq.
Iraqi PM determined in execution of
"Chemical Ali"
BAGHDAD, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki said Sunday that he is determined in executing "Chemical Ali" and two
aides of Saddam Hussein.
At a news conference held in Baghdad, the prime
minister said that "We are determined that the law be applied and those
(convicted) be handed over to judicial system." Full story
Iraqi court upholds death sentences
for 3 of Saddam's aides
BAGHDAD, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi appeals court upheld
the death sentences to "Chemical Ali" and two other Saddam's aides over charges
of genocide and crimes against humanity, a court judge said on Tuesday.
"The Iraqi High Tribunal confirmed the sentences of
death on Ali Hassan al-Majid, Sultan Hashim al-Tai and Hussein Rashid
al-Tikriti," Judge Aref Shaheen told a press conference in Baghdad. He said the
death sentences would be carried out within the next 30 days. Full story
