Iraq vice president sentenced to death in abstentia

9 September 2012, 17:28 (GMT+05:00)

See Also:

Fugitive Iraqi VP Hashemi leaves Turkey for Qatar
Iraq court hands Al-Hashemi 2nd death sentence
Former VP: Iraqi court’s verdict is political
Turkey not to give up Iraqi VP to Baghdad
Turkey unlikely to arrest Iraq’s Hashemi, sought by Interpol ‘red notice’
Interpol issues notice for arrest of fugitive Iraqi deputy
Trial of Iraqi VP set to begin in Baghdad
Iraq's fugitive Sunni VP meets Kurdish leader

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A Baghdad court sentenced in absentia Sunday Iraq's vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi, to death on terrorism charges, a judge said, DPA reported.

Al-Hashemi, who left the country before the trial began on May 3, was charged with running a death squad and involvement in the assassination of security officials and a lawyer.

Al-Hashemi, Iraq's most senior Sunni Muslim official denied the charges, calling it a political ploy on the part of the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Al-Hashemi first sought refuge in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq in December, after an arrest warrant was issued against him. Later, unconfirmed reports said he went to Turkey then Qatar.

His current whereabouts are unclear.