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Saddam aide 'to hang on Tuesday' Saddam aide is executed in Iraq
(about 4 hours later)
Former Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan is due to be hanged early on Tuesday, his lawyer has told the BBC. Former Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan has been executed, an Iraqi government official says.
The lawyer, who declined to be named, said Mr Ramadan's family was appealing for clemency from the authorities. One of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants, he was sentenced to life in jail for his role in the killing of 148 Shias in the town of Dujail in the 1980s.
One of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants, he was sentenced to life in jail for his role in the killing of 148 Shias in the 1980s.
But an appeals court later ruled this was too lenient and recommended he should instead face the death penalty.But an appeals court later ruled this was too lenient and recommended he should instead face the death penalty.
Mr Ramadan said he had no fear of death and that he would "die bravely", the lawyer said. Ramadan is the third senior former official to be hanged since Saddam Hussein was executed in late December.
He has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. Mr Ramadan had said he had no fear of death and that he would "die bravely", according to his lawyer.
Mr Ramadan, who was born in the late 1930s, lost his final appeal last week and under Iraqi law must go to the gallows within 30 days. He had maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.
Mr Ramadan, who was born in the late 1930s, lost his final appeal last week and under Iraqi law had to go to the gallows within 30 days.
TAHA YASSIN RAMADAN Born to peasant family near Mosul, northern IraqTook part in 1968 coup that put Baath party into power Became vice president in 1991 Ramadan profileTAHA YASSIN RAMADAN Born to peasant family near Mosul, northern IraqTook part in 1968 coup that put Baath party into power Became vice president in 1991 Ramadan profile
He was captured by Kurdish fighters in the northern city of Mosul in August 2003 and handed over to US forces.He was captured by Kurdish fighters in the northern city of Mosul in August 2003 and handed over to US forces.
Saddam Hussein was executed on 30 December, and was followed on 15 January by two of his former aides, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Ahmed Bandar.Saddam Hussein was executed on 30 December, and was followed on 15 January by two of his former aides, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Ahmed Bandar.
An official told the Associated Press news agency that care was taken to avoid a repeat of Tikriti's bungled execution, which led to the condemned man being decapitated during the hanging.