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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iraqi Judges Interrogate Two Saddam Aides |
| 2004-12-18 |
| Iraqi judges interrogated the notorious general known as "Chemical Ali" and Saddam's former defense minister Saturday, opening the first phase in trials for the ousted dictator's top deputies. Ali Hassan al-Majid — who earned his nickname for his alleged use of chemical weapons against Kurds and others — appeared haggard in a video released after the interrogation, from which the press was barred. He leaned on a walking stick before sitting in front of a judge behind a desk. Sultan Hashim Ahmad, Saddam's last defense chief, satred blankly at the ground as police officers stood to either side of him holding his arms. The two were the the first to go before an investigative hearing from among the 11 jailed top figures who, along with Saddam, are facing trial for crimes during the regime's three decades in power. Both were questioned by a panel of investigative judges in a hearing attended by their lawyers, said Raad al-Juhyi, the head of the panel. The videos were the first images of the men since they were initially arraigned in July along with Saddam and the other detainees. Both wore gray-colored suits and white shirts without ties and arrived at the tribunal flanked by blue uniformed police. |
| Posted by:Fred |