Aziz won’t testify against Saddam

BAGHDAD – Former Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz will not testify against Saddam Hussein in an upcoming trial in exchange for his own freedom, Aziz’s lawyer said yesterday.

A report in Britain’s Sunday Telegraph had said Aziz was ready to take the stand against Saddam, who is to stand trial on Wednesday for the murder of 143 Shi’ite villagers in 1982. “It’s completely false, I have always said that Tareq Aziz never had any intention of testifying against Saddam,” said Badie Izzat Aref.According to the newspaper report which quoted Aref, Aziz would have the main charges against him dropped and would be allowed to live quietly in exile while working on his autobiography.Aziz has been accused of two counts of mass murder, allegedly committed in 1979 and 1991, and punishable by death if he is found guilty.He denies the charges.Aref told AFP his client would claim that any orders for repressive operations were issued by Saddam himself.The former Iraqi dictator and seven former top aides initially face charges relating to the murder of Shi’ites from Dujail, north of Baghdad, where Saddam’s convoy was fired upon in July 1982 during the holy month of Ramadan.Aziz was one of the few Iraqi leaders in Saddam’s regime to speak fluent English, and was well known abroad for many years while he served as foreign minister.- Nampa-AFP”It’s completely false, I have always said that Tareq Aziz never had any intention of testifying against Saddam,” said Badie Izzat Aref.According to the newspaper report which quoted Aref, Aziz would have the main charges against him dropped and would be allowed to live quietly in exile while working on his autobiography.Aziz has been accused of two counts of mass murder, allegedly committed in 1979 and 1991, and punishable by death if he is found guilty.He denies the charges.Aref told AFP his client would claim that any orders for repressive operations were issued by Saddam himself.The former Iraqi dictator and seven former top aides initially face charges relating to the murder of Shi’ites from Dujail, north of Baghdad, where Saddam’s convoy was fired upon in July 1982 during the holy month of Ramadan.Aziz was one of the few Iraqi leaders in Saddam’s regime to speak fluent English, and was well known abroad for many years while he served as foreign minister.- Nampa-AFP