An Iraqi appeals court yesterday upheld death sentences imposed against "Chemical Ali" al-Majid and two other lieutenants of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein convicted of crimes against humanity for their roles in a massacre of Kurds, a judge said.
Al-Majid, Saddam's cousin and his former defense minister, gained the nickname "Chemical Ali" after poison gas attacks on Kurdish towns in the 1980s.
The Iraqi High Tribunal upheld his death sentence in a majority decision.
Also upheld were the sentences of former defense minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai and Hussein Rashid Mohammed, a former deputy director of operations for the Iraqi armed forces, appellate court judge Munir Hadad said.
"The government now has to carry out the execution against Ali Majid, Sultan Hashim and Hussein Rashid any time within a 30-day period," Hadad said.
All three men were convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in June for their role in the brutal crackdown that killed up to 180,000 Kurdish civilians and guerrillas two decades ago known as "Operation Anfal."
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