The family of former Iraqi deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz visited him in detention for the first time Saturday and remains confident he did nothing wrong during his years in the leadership, his daughter said.
Zainab Tariq Aziz said her sister, mother and aunt were allowed to see Aziz for the first time more than two years after he was arrested by US forces.
"He was tired, he had lost a couple of kilos, but he was in good spirits and felt relief when he saw us," she told reporters by telephone.
She said the family had driven from Amman, capital of neighboring Jordan, for the half-hour visit.
"Although we did not see my father for two years, they only gave us 30 minutes to meet him and in the presence of two Arabic speaking US soldiers," she said.
She said her father, who was also a former foreign minister, asked about other members of the family and seemed anxious for news about what was going on elsewhere in Iraq.
"He asked us about what was going on in the outside world, and also what was the latest news about the constitution," she said. Negotiations are underway to draft a new constitution by tonight's deadline.
She said Aziz met with the family in a wooden trailer divided by a glass partition. One US soldier stood behind the partition and the other was inside the part where they met with Aziz, she said.
"They did not even allow us to show him his grandchildren's pictures or letters," Zainab said. "He was worried about us and how we were doing and kept asking about his grandsons and how are they doing in school."
Aziz tried to comfort the family by telling them he is not afraid of standing trial. She quoted him as saying "I did not hurt anybody and my page is clean. So I am not anxious about the trial."
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