Council Rules "Chemical Ali" Can be Executed

The Saddam Hussein henchman known as "Chemical Ali" for gassing thousands of Kurdish civilians is due to hang within the month, following the endorsement of his death sentence Friday by Iraq's presidential council. But even survivors were notably subdued about the news in a nation weary of violence and suffering. The agreement among Iraq's three-member presidential council - President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, along with the Sunni and Shiite vice presidents - eliminated the last barrier before Ali Hassan al-Majid can be executed.