“Chemical Ali” Appears Before Iraqi Tribunal

Iraqi judges Saturday questioned former Saddam Hussein adviser Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as “Chemical Ali” for allegedly ordering the use of chemical weapons against Kurds in the town of Halabja in 1988, according to Agence France-Presse (see GSN, Dec. 15).

Al-Majid appeared during the Iraq Special Tribunal investigative hearing along with former Iraqi Defense Minister Sultan Hashem Ahmed, who is also accused of involvement in the chemical weapons attack on Halabja, AFP reported

“We are in the process of gathering evidence and hearing testimony on the different crimes committed by the accused between 1968 and 2003,” said chief magistrate Rayed Juhi.

Juhi said it would be a long time before either man faces trial. “Rapidity can damage justice,” Juhi said (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Dec. 19).

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