Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Iran lodges complaint with Iraqi court against Saddam

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Oct 19, IRNA
Iran-Saddam Trial
Iran has lodged complaint with Iraqi court against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Judiciary spokesman Jalal Karimirad said on Wednesday.

"The indictment enumerated Iraqi aggression on Iran from 1980 to 1988, the crimes the Iraqi dictator perpetrated against Iranian soldiers through violation of Geneva Convention concerning Iranian prisoners of war, and using unconventional and chemical weapons against Iranian soldiers," Karimirad said .

"The Invasion of Iran in 1980 was definitely one of the crimes committed by Saddam. We want the court to investigate the charges brought up by the Iranian people," Karimirad told a press conference.

Saddam Hussein and seven senior members of his toppled regime stood trial on Wednesday on charges of ordering the 1982 massacre of nearly 150 people from the mainly Shiite town of Dujail following a failed attempt on his life.

Saddam faces seven preliminary charges including the 1982 killings, crushing the Kurdish and Shiite rebellions after the 1991 Persian Gulf War, killing political opponents over 30 years, massacring members of the Kurdish Barzani tribe in 1983, killing religious leaders in 1974, invading Kuwait in 1990, and Anfal gassing operation against people living in the town of Halabja in 1988.

Karimirad said Saddam is a war criminal who should be brought to justice for using chemical weapons against Iranians, including civilians, in Sardasht, western Iran.

Karimirad said the Sardasht attack was similar to Saddam's Anfal operation against Iraqi town of Halabja.

"There is sufficient evidence to prove Saddam's violation of international treaties," Karimirad said.

United Nations declared in 1991 that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein initiated war in 1980 and then United Nations Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar recognized Iraq as "aggressor".

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