Iraq’s presidency endorsed the execution of Saddam Hussein’s cousin known as “Chemical Ali” who was sentenced to death for his role in the 1980s scorched-earth campaign against Kurds, a government adviser said today.

An Iraqi appeals court today upheld death sentences imposed against “Chemical Ali” al-Majid and two other Saddam Hussein lieutenants convicted of crimes against humanity for their roles a massacre of Kurds, a judge said.

Two former Saddam Hussein aides were ejected from a Baghdad courtroom for unruly behaviour today on the second day of a trial over the brutal crushing of a 1991 rebellion in Iraq by Shiite Muslims.

Saddam Hussein’s cousin, known as “Chemical Ali” and 14 others went on trial today on charges of crimes against humanity related to the brutal crushing of a Shiite uprising after the 1991 Gulf War.

Saddam Hussein’s cousin known as “Chemical Ali” and 14 other defendants will face charges over the brutal crushing of a Shiite uprising after the 1991 Gulf War next week when Iraq’s third trial against former regime officials gets under way.

Saddam Hussein’s cousin known as “Chemical Ali” and two other former regime officials were today sentenced to hang for their roles in a 1980s scorched-earth campaign that led to the deaths of 180,000 Kurds.

The wife and daughter of the brother of “Chemical Ali” al-Majid, one of the most notorious figures of the former regime, were found slain today at their home in this northern city, police said.

Saddam Hussein's cousin and four other former regime officials deserve the death penalty for crimes against humanity during a 1980s crackdown on Kurds, an Iraqi prosecutor said today.

Saddam Hussein’s cousin today told Iraq’s High Tribunal that it had no right to try him for war crimes because US forces were immune from prosecution for their alleged wrongdoings in Iraq.

A court in the genocide trial of Saddam Hussein heard harrowing accounts today that the former Iraqi leader’s forces beheaded a mentally-ill Kurdish man and pushed three other Kurds out of a helicopter in mid-air during a crackdown 20 years ago.

A survivor testified today at the genocide trial of Saddam Hussein that Iraqi warplanes bombarded a Kurdish village with chemical weapons in 1987 and helicopters pursued those who fled into the hills and bombed them.

A Kurdish woman described huddling with her children in a cave as warplanes bombarded her village with chemical weapons in testimony today at the Baghdad genocide trial of Saddam Hussein.

Saddam Hussein opened his second Baghdad trial with a show of defiance today, refusing to enter a plea on charges of genocide and war crimes connected to his scorched-earth offensive against Kurds nearly two decades ago.

The second trial of Saddam Hussein began today, opening a new legal chapter for the ousted Iraqi leader, who is charged with genocide and war crimes from his scorched-earth offensive against Kurds nearly two decades ago.

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is set to face a second trial tomorrow - this time on charges of genocide and war crimes related to his scorched-earth offensive against Kurds two decades ago.

Saddam Hussein’s notorious cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, better known as “Chemical Ali,” was one of eight former regime officials to be shown today on a tape released by the Iraqi Special tribunal.

Recent information links one of Saddam Hussein’s most notorious former generals to the massacres of Shiites in southern Iraq, a human rights group said today.

Iraqi judges have started interrogating Saddam Hussein’s former defence minister and the notorious general known as Chemical Ali, who is accused of gassing thousands of Kurds in the 1980s, the head judge in charge of investigating detained former regime leaders said today.

The head of Iraq’s war-crimes tribunal said today that the United States had pledged to hand over Saddam Hussein and about 100 other suspects to Iraqi authorities before July 1, when Iraq assumes sovereignty from its US-led occupiers.

SADDAM HUSSEIN'S notorious henchman Ali Hassan al-Majid dubbed "Chemical Ali" has been captured in Iraq.

Former Iraqi official Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as Chemical Ali for his use of poison gas in attacks, has been captured, a US official said today.

US officials now say they are not so sure that a coalition air strike killed “Chemical Ali”, one of Iraq’s most notorious officials.

SADDAM Hussein’s daughters will not be given asylum in Britain, a Home Office source said yesterday.

Saddam Hussein’s daughters applied for asylum in Germany and the United Arab Emirates as well as in Britain, it was claimed tonight.

Two of Saddam Hussein's daughters are reportedly planning to seek asylum in Britain.

Two of Saddam Hussein’s daughters are to seek asylum in Britain, a relative said in remarks published today.

US tanks stormed through the heart of Baghdad today, seizing key buildings at the heart of Saddam’s regime and sending all Iraqis the message “We own Baghdad”.

Ali Hassan al-Majid, dubbed “Chemical Ali” by opponents of the Iraqi regime for ordering a poison gas attack that killed thousands of Kurds, has been found dead, a British officer said today.

Seven women and children died after US troops fired at a van which failed to stop at an army checkpoint in southern Iraq.

AMERICAN forces yesterday turned their sights on one of Saddam Hussein’s most notorious henchmen.

Iraq said most of the helicopters used by United Nations weapons inspectors were flown out to Syria today en route to Cyprus after a Western insurance company suspended its cover for the aircraft.

Saddam Hussein has placed Iraq on a war footing, placing his son and three trusted lieutenants in charge of four military regions to defend against a US-led invasion.