BAGHDAD (AFP) — The planned execution for genocide of Saddam's Hussein's notorious hatchet man "Chemical Ali" has run into a legal hitch, two weeks after the passing of a deadline for his hanging.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki last month delayed the hanging of Ali Hassan al-Majid until after the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr which ended on Monday, well beyond the October 4 legal deadline for his execution.
The prime minister has now set up a committee to look into the legal status of proceedings given the delay over the execution of Majid, who is currently in US custody.
Majid's death sentence was upheld by the supreme court on September 4 for presiding over the mass killings of Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s and he should have been executed within 30 days of that ruling.
"Our understanding is that there is still discussion within the government of Iraq about how to proceed with this case and we are awaiting further clarification from Iraqi authorities," US embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo told AFP.
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