The Iraqi president today raised objections to the planned execution of Saddam Hussein’s former defence minister, who is due to be hanged with two other former regime officials for their roles in a massacre of Kurds.

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.

Saddam Hussein and one of his co-defendants were ejected from the courtroom in a tumultuous session in Baghdad today that saw the Iraqi defendants engage in a shouting match with the chief judge.

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.

IRAQI President Saddam Hussein chaired a meeting of top aides, including his elder son, Uday, making his first televised appearance since the outbreak of the US-led war, state television showed.