Region | Iraq
'Chemical Ali' admits he ordered Kurd villages cleared
Saddam Hussain's cousin told a court trying him for genocide on Sunday that he had ordered Kurdish villages cleared in the 1988 "Anfal" campaign but insisted he was right to do so and had nothing to apologise for.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:00 January 29, 2007
Baghdad: Saddam Hussain's cousin told a court trying him for genocide on Sunday that he had ordered Kurdish villages cleared in the 1988 "Anfal" campaign but insisted he was right to do so and had nothing to apologise for.
Ali Hassan Al Majeed, known as "Chemical Ali", is on trial with five other former senior Baath party officials for their roles in the 1988 Anfal (Spoils of War) military campaign.
Earlier this month he told the court he ordered troops to execute those who ignored government orders to leave villages, and on Sunday he reiterated that he was the one responsible for giving orders to destroy villages and displace their people.
He argued, however, that it was a legitimate military campaign since Kurdish guerrillas in northern Kurdistan had sided with Iran during the last stage of the Iraq-Iran war.
News Editor's choice
-
Kuwait condemns Houla massacre
Arab League urged to put end to oppression of Syrian people
-
Road crashes main cause of child death in UAE
Death rate among children in car accidents in the UAE is three times higher than global average
-
Last minute ID rush is on
Expatriates in Dubai have thronged typing centres and Emirates ID registration offices to meet the May 31 registration deadline
