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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Chemical Ali' execution approved | 'Chemical Ali' execution approved |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The execution of Saddam Hussein's cousin and henchman "Chemical Ali" has been approved by Iraq's presidency. | The execution of Saddam Hussein's cousin and henchman "Chemical Ali" has been approved by Iraq's presidency. |
| He was condemned to death for his role in the 1988 Anfal campaign against the Kurds in northern Iraq, in which an estimated 180,000 people died. | He was condemned to death for his role in the 1988 Anfal campaign against the Kurds in northern Iraq, in which an estimated 180,000 people died. |
| Chemical Ali - whose real name is Hassan al-Majid - was convicted on genocide charges and initially sentenced to death in June last year. | |
| Under Iraqi law the execution warrant has to be carried out within 30 days. | |
| It was signed two days ago. | |
| He was convicted along with two other top officials - Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, a senior military chief, and the former defence minister, Sultan Hashem. | He was convicted along with two other top officials - Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, a senior military chief, and the former defence minister, Sultan Hashem. |
| The trio were supposed to have been hanged by October, but legal wranglings have held up the process. | The trio were supposed to have been hanged by October, but legal wranglings have held up the process. |
| THE ANFAL CAMPAIGN Anfal (English: Spoils of War) took place between February and August 1988Officially it was a clampdown on Kurdish separatism in the northWith a civilian death toll of up to 180,000, Kurds regard it as a campaign of genocideMustard gas and nerve agents were used in air attacks Other victims were summarily executed or died in captivity Anfal campaign against Kurds | |
| The presidency, which is made up of President Jalal Talabani and two vice-presidents, has not yet approved the hanging of al-Tikriti and Hashem, sources at the presidency said. | The presidency, which is made up of President Jalal Talabani and two vice-presidents, has not yet approved the hanging of al-Tikriti and Hashem, sources at the presidency said. |
| "There are different points of view regarding the others that need to be resolved," Reuters news agency quoted a source as saying. | "There are different points of view regarding the others that need to be resolved," Reuters news agency quoted a source as saying. |
| The executions were delayed after Hashem became a cause celebre among Sunni politicians and the subject of intense lobbying for a reprieve. | |
| Iraqi Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi has been among prominent Sunnis who insisted Hashem had simply been a career soldier and should be released. |