Tarek Aziz seeks pardon from Iraqi president

Baghdad: Lawyers for Tarek Aziz are asking Iraq's president to pardon the former Saddam Hussain ally, who faces execution for the persecution of Shiites.

Aziz was the international face of Saddam's regime and the only Christian in his inner circle, serving as both foreign minister and deputy prime minister.

His attorney, Giovanni Di Stefano, said Monday he was confident the pardon would be granted, given the amnesty appeals from several European nations and the Vatican as well as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's refusal to sign the death warrant.

But it's unclear if Talabani can pardon Aziz. His pardon authority under Iraq's constitution must follow a recommendation by the prime minister, who is a Shiite.