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| Iraq |
| Tariq Aziz To See Family For Christmas |
| 2005-12-21 |
| Baghdad, 21 Dec. (AKI) - The former deputy prime minister of Iraq, Tariq Aziz, is to be allowed to see his family for Christmas, his lawyer Badi Arif has told the Iraqi news agency Nina News. "The American forces have allowed Tariq Aziz to see his relatives in prison on the occasion of Christmas, because of his [Aziz's] Christian faith," the lawyer said. Arif added that he would also be allowed to attend. Aziz's family were given permission to visit him in August this year, in what was thought to be the first time any of Saddam's former aides were allowed to see their family. His daughter Zeinab, who travelled from Jordan for the brief visit, told the media he had lost weight and looked old and frail, but said he had not complained about how he had been treated. During Saddam's reign, Aziz was the public face of Iraq. He was number 25 on America's most wanted list and surrended in April 2003. He has not yet been charged with any specific crimes, and his lawyer says he has been encouraged to give evidence against Saddam Hussein, but refuses to. Aziz's lawyer also confirmed that the multi-national force in Iraq had released eight former leaders from the former regime and will soon release another 17 senior figures from the former government in Baghdad. The US authorities in Iraq are also said to be considering freeing a third group of 35 senior officials from Saddam's regime, including the cousin of the former dictator, Ezzedin al-Majid. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 Wasn't Tariq's daughter Zeinab the one that Saddam's late son Uday routinely raped? I'll bet she's glad we finally put him down. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2005-12-21 15:33 |
| #1 What a touching story. Would that the victims of the regime and tyrant he once served also had received such kindness. |
| Posted by: The Happy Fliegerabwehrkanonen 2005-12-21 15:23 |