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Saddam aides go on trial in Iraq Saddam aides go on trial in Iraq
(about 3 hours later)
The trial has opened in Baghdad of 15 aides of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein for the suppression of a Shia uprising after the 1991 Gulf War. The trial has begun in Baghdad of 15 aides of the former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, who are accused of committing crimes against humanity.
It is the third trial held by the Iraq High Tribunal. Among those in the dock is Saddam Hussein's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali". The charges relate to their alleged role in suppressing a Shia uprising after the 1991 Gulf War, in which tens of thousands are thought to have died.
It is widely estimated that tens of thousands of people were killed when the short-lived uprising was crushed. In recent years, mass graves containing hundreds of bodies have been uncovered.
In recent years, many mass graves have been uncovered. The defendants include the cousin of Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan al-Majid, who is widely known as "Chemical Ali".
Controversies revived Majid has already been sentenced to death, following an earlier trial for crimes against Iraq's Kurdish population.
The uprising started days after the US-led alliance had driven Saddam's forces out of Kuwait. Two more of the defendants in the latest trial - Sultan Hashim al-Tai, a former defence minister, and Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, a former deputy chief of operations for the armed forces - were also sentenced to death for those killings.
Across the predominantly Shia provinces of southern Iraq there were apparently spontaneous rebellions. 'Cold-blooded killings'
class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3026821.stm">In Saddam's killing fields class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/2855349.stm">Profile: 'Chemical Ali' Dressed in a cream robe and a white kuffiya shawl, Majid was among the first to enter the Iraqi High Tribunal in Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone on Monday.
The trial will deal with crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Iraqi military leaders and leaders of the ruling Baath Party in putting down these rebellions and in the punishment of suspected supporters of the uprising. "I am the fighter Ali Hassan al-Majid," he replied when asked to identify himself by Judge Mohammed al-Oraibi al-Khalifa.
Majid has already been sentenced to death in an earlier trial for crimes against the Kurdish population, as have two more of the defendants. DEFENDANTS Ali Hassan al-MajidSultan Hashim al-TaiHussein Rashid al-TikritiAbd Hamid Mahmoud al-NasseriIbrahim Abdul Sattar al-DahanWalid Hamid Tawfik al-NasseriIyad Fatiya al-RawiSabawi Ibrahim al-HasanAbdul Ghafour Fulayih al-AniAyad Taha Shihab al-DouriLatif Maal Hamoud al-SabawiQais Abdul Razzaq al-AdhamiSabir Abdul Aziz al-DouriSaadi Tuma Abbas al-JabouriSufyan Maher al-Ghairiri class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/2855349.stm">Profile: 'Chemical Ali'
US President George Bush Senior's decision not to press on to Baghdad after defeating Saddam Hussein's forces in Kuwait long remained contentious among Shia who believed they had a green light to stage an uprising. The 15 defendants were accused of crimes against humanity "for engaging in widespread or systematic attacks against a civilian population".
The fact that Saddam Hussein's forces were able to use helicopters as gunships against those who took part also caused concern. In his opening statement, the chief prosecutor accused the men of carrying out cold-blooded executions during the uprising.
The trial could revive these controversies. "The helicopters were bombing the cities and houses of people. Prisoners captured were killed," the prosecutor said.
"Majid used to come to detention centres, tie the hands of the detainees and then shoot them dead with his weapon. The dead were then later buried in mass graves," he added.
"Many mass graves have been found since the 2003 war ended. And we will find many more if we keep searching."
The court will hear about 90 witnesses as well as audio tapes and written reports. US officials said there was little remaining evidence of the orders given, however, as Saddam Hussein ordered the destruction of records.
Mass reprisals
The Shaaban Intifada (Uprising) started in March 1991 as defeated Iraqi troops fled back to southern Iraq after US-led forces took control of Kuwait
In Saddam's killing fields
Galvanised by a message by US President George Bush to "take matters into their own hands", the Shia strongholds of Najaf and Karbala rose in revolt in an attempt to topple Saddam Hussein.
Soon, thousands of rebel troops seized control of the major southern city of Basra and 14 of Iraq's provinces, and advanced to within 60 miles of Baghdad.
But despite these early successes, the rebellion was swiftly crushed by government forces. Mass reprisals followed in which tens of thousands are believed to have died.
Many Shia blame President Bush for the uprising's failure, as the US came to a ceasefire agreement that allowed forces loyal to Saddam to crush the rebellion by using helicopter gunships.
The trial will deal with crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Iraqi military leaders and leaders of the ruling Baath Party in putting down the rebellion and in the punishment of its suspected supporters.
Majid is said to have directed Baghdad's military response to the uprising.