Iraq's Sunni VP Sentenced to Death

Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi speaks to reporters during a press conference at Kuwait City's Bayan Palace, January 2008. Photo by CNN

Iraq's fugitive Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi has been sentenced to death in absentia after a court found him guilty of running death squads.

Abdul Sattar al-Berqdar, a spokesman for Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, has stated that Hashemi was "involved directly in killing a female lawyer and a general with the Iraqi army."

"There are many other charges against al-Hashimi, but this is one of the charges he was convicted of," the spokesman added, as cited by CNN.

Hashemi was the most senior Sunni Muslim in the predominantly Shia Iraqi government until he was charged last December and went on the run, BBC has reminded.

He has accused the country's Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of pushing the country towards a religious divide.

At least 44 people were killed in a wave of insurgent attacks against Iraqi security forces on Sunday.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!