Tariq Aziz 74 sentenced to death for his part in Sadaam Iraq Government

Tariq Aziz, for many years the international face of Iraq under Saddam Hussein, has been sentenced to death by the Iraqi Supreme Court.

He was convicted in connection with the persecution of religious parties, a statement said.

Aziz, 74, served as foreign minister and deputy prime minister and was a close adviser to Saddam Hussein.

He has been previously convicted for his role in the execution of dozens of merchants for profiteering.

Aziz is reported to be seriously ill.

"The supreme criminal court issued an execution order against Tariq Aziz for his role in eliminating religious parties," Iraqi state television reported.

Officials said two other defendants in the case were also sentenced to death - former interior minister Sadoun Shakir and former private secretary to Saddam Hussein, Abed Hamoud.

Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim, crushed all attempts to establish rival political groups in the 1980s and 1990s. He particularly targeted Shia Muslim parties, including the Dawa party of which current Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is a member.

Aziz's lawyer, Badee Izzat Aref, told the Associated Press that the verdict was "politically motivated".

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Tariq
• Aziz
• 74
• sentenced to death
• Sadaam
• Iraq
• hanging
• death
• religion
• politics
• military

[Bpowderr]

yeah, too bad we were lied too and a lot of our guys have died for reasons the public isn't told.

[hlimkb]

should have jump ship when he knew what his boss was up against aka us military might.