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Tariq Aziz guilty of Iraq murders Tariq Aziz guilty of Iraq murders
(about 1 hour later)
Tariq Aziz, for many years the public face of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime, has been jailed for 15 years for his role in the execution of 42 merchants.Tariq Aziz, for many years the public face of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime, has been jailed for 15 years for his role in the execution of 42 merchants.
Aziz had denied any role in the summary trials of the men accused in 1992 of profiteering during economic sanctions.Aziz had denied any role in the summary trials of the men accused in 1992 of profiteering during economic sanctions.
A number of top regime figures signed the death warrants of the flour traders, including Ali Hassan al-Majid, commonly known as Chemical Ali. Two of Saddam Hussein's half-brothers were also found guilty and sentenced to death by a court in Baghdad.
At least two others received death sentences. Details are still coming in. Another top official, Ali Hassan al-Majid - commonly known as Chemical Ali - was jailed for 15 years.
Two other Iraqi officials were jailed for six and 15 years, while a former governor of the Iraqi central bank was acquitted, reports say.
'Poor health'
This is Aziz's first conviction in the controversial Iraqi High Tribunal process, which has been criticised by human rights groups on a number of counts.This is Aziz's first conviction in the controversial Iraqi High Tribunal process, which has been criticised by human rights groups on a number of counts.
He could also have received a death penalty. Last week he was acquitted in a separate trial over the killings of Shia Muslim protesters in 1999.He could also have received a death penalty. Last week he was acquitted in a separate trial over the killings of Shia Muslim protesters in 1999.
Co-defendant al-Majid was facing his fourth capital conviction in the merchants' case, having been already been sentenced in the Anfal campaign against the Kurds in the late 1980s, the crushing of a Shia uprising in 1991 and the 1999 killings. Aziz surrendered to US troops on 24 April 2003.
Another of the co-accused is Saddam Hussein's half-brother, Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan. In recent years, he has reportedly suffered from poor health in prison awaiting trial.
On Wednesday, two of Saddam Hussein's half-brothers - former presidential adviser Watban Ibrahim and former intelligence chief Sabawi Ibrahim - were sentenced to death by hanging.
Co-defendant Majid was jailed for 15 years. Majid had faced his fourth capital conviction in the merchants' case, having already been sentenced in the Anfal campaign against the Kurds in the late 1980s, the crushing of a Shia uprising in 1991 and the 1999 killings.
Saddam Hussein himself was hanged in December 2006 in a separate case.Saddam Hussein himself was hanged in December 2006 in a separate case.
Human Rights Watch issued a report into the trial of Saddam Hussein which concluded that the process was flawed and its verdict unsound because of "serious administrative, procedural and substantive legal defects".Human Rights Watch issued a report into the trial of Saddam Hussein which concluded that the process was flawed and its verdict unsound because of "serious administrative, procedural and substantive legal defects".