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Saddam aides go on trial in Iraq Saddam aides go on trial in Iraq
(about 4 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. Fifteen aides of Saddam Hussein have been accused in a court in Iraq of "one of the ugliest crimes ever committed against humanity in modern history".
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 defendants are alleged to have helped suppress 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". Those in the dock 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 genocide against Iraq's Kurdish population in the so-called Anfal campaign of 1988.
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' Mass graves
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.
"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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/2855349.stm">Profile: 'Chemical Ali' class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/2888989.stm">Flashback: 1991 Iraq revolt Once they had been seated, the 15 men were told they faced charges of crimes against humanity "for engaging in widespread or systematic attacks against a civilian population", offences punishable by death.
The 15 defendants were accused of crimes against humanity "for engaging in widespread or systematic attacks against a civilian population". 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-HassanAbdul 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' class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/2888989.stm">Flashback: 1991 Iraq revolt
In his opening statement, the chief prosecutor accused the men of carrying out cold-blooded executions during the uprising. "The acts committed against the Iraqi people in 1991 by the security forces and by the defendants sitting were among one of the ugliest crimes ever committed against humanity in modern history," the chief prosecutor said in his opening remarks.
"The helicopters were bombing the cities and houses of people. Prisoners captured were killed," the prosecutor said. The prosecutor alleged that former President Saddam Hussein had ordered tanks and infantry troops withdrawn from Kuwait to attack Iraq's southern provinces when he realised he had lost control there.
"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. "The convict Saddam made rash judgements. Majid was authorised to demolish anything and kill anyone who came in the way of the forces," he said.
He then accused the defendants of both ordering and carrying out cold-blooded executions while they directed Baghdad's military response to the uprising.
"The helicopters were bombing the cities and houses of people. Prisoners captured were killed," he 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.
"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 first witness, 65-year-old former soldier Raybath Jabbar Risan, said troops from the elite Republic Guard had shelled his village in Basra province with artillery and mortars.
Mass reprisals "My cousin was killed and nephew wounded. My brother's house was burned. I escaped with my family," he told the court.
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 "I worked in the army for 30 years and never imagined they would do this to me and my family."
The court expects to 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.
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 fieldsIn 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 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 of people 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.
Majid is said to have directed Baghdad's military response to the uprising.