Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi court begun Tuesday a new trial for 15 aides of former president Saddam Hussein over charges of crimes against humanity during the Shiite uprising after the 1991 Gulf War.

    The Iraqi High Tribunal kicked off the third prosecution for Saddam's aides for their alleged role in killing of what the prosecutors said 100,000 of people in the Shiite-dominated cities in southern Iraq after the then U.S.-led alliance evicted Saddam's army from Kuwait.

    Saddam's cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali, was one of those who took the seats in the dock.

Iraqi court confirms death penalty on Saddam aide

    BAGHDAD, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi High Tribunal's appeals court confirmed the death sentence imposed on Taha Yassin Ramadan, vice president to executed Saddam Hussein, court official said on Thursday.

    "All the members of the appeals court approved yesterday the death sentence on Taha Yassin Ramadan," Judge Munir Haddad of the appeals panel told news conference.

Iraqi tribunal sentences 3 Saddam's aides to death

A combo of file pictures created 23 June 2007 shows (Top L-R) Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as "Chemical Ali" and his co-defendants Sabir al-Duri, Sultan Hashim al-Tai, (Bottom L-R) Taher al-Ani, Farhan al-Juburi and Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti during the "Anfal" genocide trial in Baghdad in December 2006 and January 2007.(File Photo)
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    BAGHDAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi High Tribunal resumed the Anfal trial on Sunday to hand down judgment against six former aides of Saddam Hussein for their roles in a 1980s crackdown against northern Iraqi Kurds.

    The sentencing hearing was opened by chief judge Muhammad Urieby al-Khalaifah, calling on the six defendants one by one to enter the courtroom.

Iraqi tribunal resumes in Baghdad to give verdicts against Saddam's aide

    BAGHDAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi High Tribunal resumed the Anfal trial on Sunday to hand down judgment against six former aides of Saddam Hussein for their roles in a 1980s crackdown against northern Iraqi Kurds. Full Story

Chemical Ali admits he ordered clearing

    BEIJING, Jan. 29 -- Saddam Hussein's cousin told a court trying him for genocide yesterday he had ordered Kurdish villages cleared in the 1988 "Anfal" campaign but insisted he was right to do so and had nothing to apologize for. Full Story