Tariq Aziz, formerly the urbane, Westernised frontman for Saddam Hussein and the only Christian in the Iraqi dictator's inner circle, was sentenced to 15 years in prison yesterday for crimes against humanity. Aziz, who was the face of Saddam's regime for years, looked shocked when the sentence was given out at his trial in Baghdad and asked to sit down. He has been suffering ill health for some time.
He was found guilty on four counts of crimes against humanity, including complicity in murder and torture in connection with the execution of 42 Iraqi merchants who had been accused by Saddam of being involved in increasing food prices at a time when the country was struggling under international sanctions. They were rounded up in July 1992 and executed soon after a quick trial.
Prosecutors in the trial said that the former Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister was complicit in the deaths because he was a member of the ruling Revolutionary Command Council that rubber-stamped Saddam's decision to have the merchants arrested.
Aziz was one of those named on a US list of "most-wanted" regime members that was published in the form of a deck of cards. He was number 43. But the man often seen in public with a cigar in his mouth, and who tried to defend Saddam on the world stage, gave himself up soon after the fall of Baghdad in April 2003.
In court he wore a blue jacket, black shirt and his trademark thick, black-rimmed glasses. After he was sentenced he kept his eyes closed as other defendants stood up to hear their sentences.
Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan and Sabawi Ibrahim, director of public security - both half-brothers of Saddam - were sentenced to death on the same charges. Ali Hassan al-Majeed, better known as Chemical Ali - who has already been given three death sentences from previous cases - was also given a 15-year prison sentence for the death of the merchants.Three other defendants received sentences of life in prison, 15 years and six years. Issam Rashid Hweish, formerly of the Central Bank in Baghdad, was acquitted owing to lack of evidence.