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This is an archive article published on December 15, 2004

Saddam aides to go on trial in election run-up

Iraq will put some of Saddam Hussein’s lieutenants on trial next week, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi announced on Tuesday. But Al...

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Iraq will put some of Saddam Hussein’s lieutenants on trial next week, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi announced on Tuesday. But Allawi warned the temporary National Council the vote might not kill off an insurgency among the Sunni minority.

Hours earlier, the second suicide car bomber in 24 hours struck one of the entrances to the Green Zone government compound where he was speaking, wounding 12 people and possibly killing seven. Hospital staff said some of the wounded spoke of others blown to pieces.

‘‘I will tell you clearly and specifically that next week, God willing, the trials of the symbols of the former regime will begin,’’ Allawi said, adding that a cousin of Saddam had been arrested. Allawi said Iraqi police had killed an aide to Jordanian Al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and captured two others. He also announced the discovery of a new mass grave in Kurdish northern Iraq, which may form evidence against Saddam.

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Meanwhile, the most prominent Sunni grouping, the Iraqi Islamic Party, said it was among 79 parties and blocs that have submitted lists of candidates for the ballot, but said it had yet to decide whether to campaign.

Saddam in Camp Cropper: Minister

Parties have one day left to register their lists for the poll. The full lists will be made public on December 20, an Electoral Commission spokesman said. Shi’ite politicians have agreed on a list of 228 candidates that brings together Iraq’s two main Shi’ite parties, Dawa and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, as well as Iraqi Hizbollah and several secular Shi’ites. Allawi, a secular Shi’ite, has said his Iraqi National Accord will present a list on Wednesday.

A resurgence of violence in Falluja has put pressure on the US Marine force in the region, which suffered two more casualties. —Reuters

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