Chemical Ali first on trial

THE former Iraqi general known as Chemical Ali, who is accused of using chemical weapons attacks to kill thousands of Kurds, will be the first of Saddam Hussein’s cohorts to stand trial next week, a government official said yesterday.

Ali Hasan al-Majid is accused of ordering the 1988 Halabja chemical weapons attacks against Kurds, the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and suppressing a 1991 Shi’ite uprising. He is among 12 regime members awaiting trial.