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Talabani delays death sentence
Source: Agencies |
November 18, 2010, Thursday
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IRAQ'S president said yesterday he won't sign off on a death penalty sentence against one of Saddam Hussein's closest confidantes, Tariq Aziz, setting the stage for a possible battle over the fate of the man known as the international face of the dictator's regime.
The decision to prosecute and execute members of Saddam's regime is a source of controversy in Iraq, where many members of the country's Shiite majority, who suffered under the ousted Sunni-dominated regime, want vengeance for past crimes.
Aziz was Christian and not Sunni, but many in the Sunni community view his conviction and those of others as proof they'll forever be held responsible for actions carried out years ago. The Vatican has urged Iraq to not carry out the death sentence and said it may try to intervene diplomatically to halt it.
During an interview that aired yesterday with France 24 TV, President Jalal Talabani cited a number of reasons for refusing to approve the execution.
"I cannot sign an order of this kind because I am a socialist," Talabani said. "I feel compassion for Tariq Aziz because he is a Christian, an Iraqi Christian."
"In addition, he is an elderly man? aged over 70? and this is why I will never sign this order," Talabani said in Arabic through a translator. He was speaking in Paris, where he attended a meeting of the Socialist International this week.
Talabani has refused to sign off on death sentences for other former regime members, including former defense minister Sultan Hashim al-Taie, who signed the cease-fire with United States-led forces that ended the 1991 Gulf war and remains in US custody.
However, it was not immediately clear whether Talabani's opposition would necessarily spare Aziz's life. Under the constitution, the president is supposed to ratify death sentences, but there are mechanisms for the execution to be carried out through parliament.
Aziz's supporters have argued that he was not responsible for the crimes for which he's accused but is being persecuted simply because he was a member of Saddam's regime. Aziz's son has praised Talibani's position.
The decision to prosecute and execute members of Saddam's regime is a source of controversy in Iraq, where many members of the country's Shiite majority, who suffered under the ousted Sunni-dominated regime, want vengeance for past crimes.
Aziz was Christian and not Sunni, but many in the Sunni community view his conviction and those of others as proof they'll forever be held responsible for actions carried out years ago. The Vatican has urged Iraq to not carry out the death sentence and said it may try to intervene diplomatically to halt it.
During an interview that aired yesterday with France 24 TV, President Jalal Talabani cited a number of reasons for refusing to approve the execution.
"I cannot sign an order of this kind because I am a socialist," Talabani said. "I feel compassion for Tariq Aziz because he is a Christian, an Iraqi Christian."
"In addition, he is an elderly man? aged over 70? and this is why I will never sign this order," Talabani said in Arabic through a translator. He was speaking in Paris, where he attended a meeting of the Socialist International this week.
Talabani has refused to sign off on death sentences for other former regime members, including former defense minister Sultan Hashim al-Taie, who signed the cease-fire with United States-led forces that ended the 1991 Gulf war and remains in US custody.
However, it was not immediately clear whether Talabani's opposition would necessarily spare Aziz's life. Under the constitution, the president is supposed to ratify death sentences, but there are mechanisms for the execution to be carried out through parliament.
Aziz's supporters have argued that he was not responsible for the crimes for which he's accused but is being persecuted simply because he was a member of Saddam's regime. Aziz's son has praised Talibani's position.
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