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Sammy's defense minister on his way to court
Saddam Hussein's defense minister, who surrendered to American forces last year, will appear alongside another notorious general — known as Chemical Ali — when investigative trials open next week, an official said Friday. Gen. Sultan Hashim Ahmad, who gave himself up in September 2003 at a coalition military base in the northern city of Mosul, will be among the first two to face the hearings, which interim Iraqi Prime Minister Prime Minister Ayad Allawi announced will commence next week.An Iraqi government official said on Thursday that Saddam's notorious former right-hand man, Ali Hassan al-Majid — known as Chemical Ali for his use of chemical weapons — would head the list of 11 top regime members to appear at the initial investigative court hearings. "Chemical Ali and Sultan will be the first to face the hearings," the official, who is familiar with the proceedings, told The Associated Press. Ahmad was No. 27 on America's list of 55 most-wanted regime figures. He surrendered on Sept. 19, 2003, to Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, who was then the commander of the 101st Airborne Brigade. Ahmad is in U.S. military custody at an undisclosed location in Baghdad. During the 1991 Gulf War, Ahmad, then a lieutenant general, served as deputy chief of staff. He headed the Iraqi delegation at cease-fire talks. Posted by: Fred 2004-12-17 |
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