Iraq’s president has declared that he will not sign off on the hanging of Tariq Aziz, joining the Vatican and others in objecting to the death sentence for the man who for years was the international face of Saddam Hussein’s regime.

A new trial date has been set for the Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at then-US President George Bush, a court spokesman said today.

Iraq’s Higher Judicial Council today said a senior judge was assassinated while travelling in eastern Baghdad.