Iraq Court Sentences Fugitive Ex-Vice President to Death

RIA Novosti

23:03 09/09/2012

MOSCOW, September 9 (RIA Novosti) - A court in Iraq has sentenced former Sunni vice president Tariq al-Hashemi to death in absentia, Al-Jazeera reported on Sunday.

In December 2011, al-Hashemi was accused of being behind 150 bombings, assassinations, kidnappings and other attacks in 2005-2011, most of which were allegedly carried out by his bodyguards or other employees.

Al-Hashemi, who fled the country shortly after charges were laid against him, has repeatedly said his case was politically motivated.

He described the charges as a political vendetta by his longtime rival Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shia who critics say is monopolizing power.

The former vice president’s son-in-law, who worked his secretary, was also found guilty. Both men were sentenced to death by hanging.

According to media reports this May, al-Hashemi, who is on the Interpol wanted list, has fled to Turkey.