Iraq's 'Chemical Ali' gets 3rd death sentence

[March 02, 2009]  BAGHDAD (AP) -- An Iraqi judge has given death sentences to three former officials in Saddam Hussein's regime for slayings and abuses against Shiites a decade ago.

The defendants include Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali," for ordering poison gas attacks in the 1980s.

This is Chemical Ali's third death sentence for brutalities during Saddam's rule.

The sentences Monday are for a 1999 crackdown that sought to quell a Shiite backlash to the slaying of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad al-Sadr. His supporters blame the killing on Saddam's agents.

A former intelligence chief and a former top Baath party official also got death sentences.

Three other former Saddam officials received life sentences while two were acquitted, including former Foreign Minster Tariq Aziz.

[Associated Press]

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