Chemical Ali Sentenced to Death in Iraq

Remember him? He is Saddam Hussein's notorious cousin "Chemical Ali" Hassan al-Majid and he received a second death sentence, this time for crushing a Shiite uprising in the wake of Iraq's defeat in the l99l Gulf War. Once among the most feared members of Saddam's regime, he uttered "thanks be to God" as chief judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa declared him guilty and imposed the sentence at the end of the trial, which began in August 2007.

I don't know why it takes so long to have the trials, etc. He already faces the gallows after being convicted last year for his role in the killing of tens of thousands of Kurds in a crackdown in the late l980's, in which chemical weapons were used against civilians. Legal wrangling has delayed that execution. They think if they die they will automatically go to Heaven, but he might be in for quite a surprise.

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.