Top Iraqi Official Executed-

One of Saddam's closest aides who handed down many of the dictator's repressive orders, was EXECUTED in Iraq on Thursday, the justice ministry said- More info can be afforded at www. msn.com-:shock:

Thanks Trebo, Same but diff story on Yahoo news.



Iraq on Thursday executed Saddam Hussein's presidential secretary and chief bodyguard Abid Hamid Mahmud, justice ministry spokesman Haidar al-Saadi said.

"He was executed today," Saadi said, adding: "The ministry of justice
implemented the execution sentence against the criminal Abd Hmoud...
for genocide," referring to Mahmud by the name Iraqis call him.

Mahmud was number four on the list of Iraqi officials targeted by
American forces following the 2003 US-led invasion, behind only Saddam
and his two sons Uday and Qusay.

He was captured on June 16, 2003, and eventually sentenced to death on October 26, 2010 along with former deputy premier Tareq Aziz and ex-interior minister Saadun Shaker, for their role in the crackdown on Shiite Muslim religious parties during the 1980s.

Saddam, who was hanged on December 30, 2006, killed a large number of Shiite leaders during the 1980-88 war with Iran.

When in power, Saddam was rarely seen without Mahmud, who shadowed
the president and was charged with handing down his orders to Iraqi
ministries and ensuring his personal safety.

Both men came from the same village of Aujah, just outside Tikrit north of Baghdad.

With his signature beret and moustache, Mahmud's official title was presidential secretary,
but a British government dossier said he was responsible for Saddam's
personal security, as well as defence, security and intelligence issues.

The dossier said Mahmud, a lieutenant general in the army, "is
regarded by some as the real number two figure in the Iraqi leadership,"
as he controlled access to Saddam and could override government
decisions.

Mahmud was seen at Saddam's side in his last appearance on television before his capture, aired on April 7, 2003.

Saddam's own execution sparked international controversy after mobile
phone video of the sentence being carried out was published on the
Internet showing witnesses taunting him as he was about to be hanged.

The footage, which was sold on Baghdad streets after the execution,
showed an angry but composed Saddam standing on a steel platform in a
dark hall, his hands bound and a rough hemp rope around his neck.

Several members of the party carrying out the hanging could be heard
chanting, "Moqtada, Moqtada, Moqtada!" before Saddam is seen falling to
his death as the metal trapdoor opens below his feet.

They were referring to Moqtada al-Sadr, a radical anti-US Shiite cleric who rose to prominence after Saddam's fall from power.

Last August, the lawyer for Aziz -- a Christian and close confidant
of the executed dictator -- quoted him as calling on Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki to accelerate his execution because of his worsening health.

"His health condition is very poor and he asked me to convey a
message to Mr Maliki, calling on him to execute him as soon as
possible," Badie Aref told AFP.

"He said this is his wish now... He asked this because of his dangerous health condition. He is suffering."

Aref said at the time Aziz was being treated well in prison, but had
diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, prostate problems and
stomach ulcers.


http://news.yahoo.com/iraq-executes-saddams-chief-bodyguard-top-aide-111333570.html

Rick152- Sorry about that- I only read this at msn earlier, as I didn't know yahoo had reported the same thing on their website- Thanks for the heads up-:cheers:

N P terbo this is good news for Iraq in that they are still following through in catching up and leveling justice for bad guys of the former regime.

Moving this to "iraqi government news"

Rick152- That's exactly what I thought- It's about time,and it's good for us-