This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6956080.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Saddam aides go on trial in Iraq | Saddam aides go on trial in Iraq |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The trial has begun in Baghdad of 15 aides of the former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, who are accused of committing crimes against humanity. | The trial has begun in Baghdad of 15 aides of the former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, who are accused of committing crimes against humanity. |
| 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. | 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. |
| In recent years, mass graves containing hundreds of bodies have been uncovered. | In recent years, mass graves containing hundreds of bodies have been uncovered. |
| The defendants include the cousin of Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan al-Majid, who is widely known as "Chemical Ali". | The defendants include the cousin of Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan al-Majid, who is widely known as "Chemical Ali". |
| Majid has already been sentenced to death, following an earlier trial for crimes against Iraq's Kurdish population. | Majid has already been sentenced to death, following an earlier trial for crimes against Iraq's Kurdish population. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Cold-blooded killings' | 'Cold-blooded killings' |
| 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. | 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. |
| "I am the fighter Ali Hassan al-Majid," he replied when asked to identify himself by Judge Mohammed al-Oraibi al-Khalifa. | "I am the fighter Ali Hassan al-Majid," he replied when asked to identify himself by Judge Mohammed al-Oraibi al-Khalifa. |
| 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 Profile: 'Chemical Ali' class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/2888989.stm">Flashback: 1991 Iraq revolt | |
| The 15 defendants were accused of crimes against humanity "for engaging in widespread or systematic attacks against a civilian population". | The 15 defendants were accused of crimes against humanity "for engaging in widespread or systematic attacks against a civilian population". |
| In his opening statement, the chief prosecutor accused the men of carrying out cold-blooded executions during the uprising. | In his opening statement, the chief prosecutor accused the men of carrying out cold-blooded executions during the uprising. |
| "The helicopters were bombing the cities and houses of people. Prisoners captured were killed," the prosecutor said. | "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. | "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." | "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. | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Majid is said to have directed Baghdad's military response to the uprising. |