BAGHDAD - Tareq
Aziz, the Iraqi former deputy prime minister, denied
that he might testify against his former president
Saddam Hussein in a trial that could begin in a
couple of months.
In an effort to quash speculation that the man who
was Saddam's envoy to the outside world might turn
star witness for the prosecution, Aziz delivered a
statement through his lawyer.
"I would like to make clear ... that I will not
testify against anyone and, in particular, I will
not testify against Saddam Hussein," attorney Badia
Aref quoted Aziz saying in a note he passed the
lawyer during a meeting earlier in the day.
So far, Saddam has been formally charged in one case
-- the killing of dozens of Shi'ite Muslims from the
village of Dujail after a failed assassination
attempt in 1982. If he is found guilty, he faces the
death penalty. An Iraqi judge said on Monday the
trial was expected to begin in two months. |
Tareq Aziz, the Iraqi former deputy prime minister
Former dictator
Saddam Hussein
Photo : AP |
|
Dujail
is seen as a relatively minor case among the many
accusations of genocide and crimes against humanity
levelled at the ousted president and his senior
advisers. But prosecutors hope it will be easier to
secure a conviction in a smaller case.
Saddam is awaiting trial at a U.S.-run high-security
camp on the outskirts of Baghdad. He has appeared
before Iraq's war crimes tribunal along with several
aides, including Aziz.
No charges have yet been brought publicly against
Aziz, who Aref said, was last questioned by a
magistrate on June 24.
Reuters
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