Top Saddam Aides Get 15 Years for Killings

'Down with the occupiers,' his half-bro shouts as sentence is read

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Mar 11, 2009 1:42 PM CDT

(Newser) – Saddam Hussein’s ex-foreign minister, Tariq Aziz, and his cousin “Chemical Ali” al-Majid were both sentenced today to 15 years in prison for their involvement in the 1992 execution of 42 Baghdad merchants. The pair was among eight defendants, and only one—then governor of Iraq’s central bank—was acquitted, the Washington Post reports. Two of Hussein’s half-brothers received death sentences.

Al-Majid already has three death sentences for his role in other crimes, including the 1988 Kurdish genocide. Aziz, who turned himself into US authorities a month after Iraq’s government fell, is 73 and in poor health, his family says. He also served as deputy prime minister under Saddam, but was never thought to have wielded much influence.

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In this image from television Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali", top, left, stands in a court in Baghdad earlier today to hear his sentence. (AP Photo)

In this 2006 file photo, former Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz testifies for the defense during former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's trial. (AP Photo)

In this image made from television, Saddam Hussein's former foreign minister, Tariq Aziz, stands in a court earlier today to hear his conviction. (AP Photo)

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Long live Iraq! Long live Iraq! Down with the occupiers!
- Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan, Saddam Hussein's half brother, as Wednesday's verdict was read

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Top Saddam Aides Get 15 Years for Killings