Leading Saddam aide appears before Iraqi war crimes tribunal

TARIQ Aziz, Saddam Hussein’s former deputy prime minister, has appeared before Iraq’s special tribunal as it steps up the process of questioning former regime loyalists about war crimes.

The tribunal yesterday released film showing Aziz, looking relaxed in a white prison robe, responding to questions about an exchange of letters he had with Saddam’s office over a written question from the UN about the killing of Kurds.

Several other officials were also questioned, including Saddam’s cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as Chemical Ali, who appeared before a judge for the second time in two weeks.