Official: 'Chemical Ali' sick and won't attend trial to face new charges
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
An Iraqi government official says Saddam Hussein's cousin known as "Chemical Ali" is too sick to attend a trial to face new charges in the 1992 execution of 42 merchants.
Ali Hassan al-Majid faces charges with former deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and six other defendants. The trial is to begin Tuesday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information, says al-Majid is suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure.
Al-Majid's defense team also says he's too ill to stand trial. He has been sentenced to hang for his role in separate case.
The US military says al-Majid is under medical care at an American detention facility after suffering a heart attack earlier this month.
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