ANKARA (AA) - September 10, 2012 - Iraq's fugitive Sunni vice-president, Tariq al-Hashemi, on Monday slammed a ruling by an Iraqi court which sentenced him to death on charges of plotting terror attacks in Iraq.
"I do not recognize this brutal ruling which was made without hearing my defense. Those who believe in me, they are all in danger now," Hashemi told reporters in a press meeting in Turkish capital Ankara, a day after the court ruling in absentia on al-Hashemi and one of his bodyguards on the charges of running death squads in Iraq.
"It is not me but [Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri] al-Maliki should be tried at the United Nations. He is responsible for the killing of hundreds of thousands of people," he said.
Al-Hashemi said he had met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, adding that Turkey believed that the Iraqi court's ruling was politically motivated, and he would continue to stay in Turkey.
"The court in Iraq is not fair. I am ready to appear before any court where I can get a fair trial," al-Hashemi said, characterizing the Iraqi court as "politicized" and his trial "a theatrical campaign."
Al-Hashemi accused al-Maliki of "running a tyrant's regime," saying that calling on Iraqis "to do their everything in their power to prevent Iraq from splitting up."
Al-Hashemi said he wanted to be tried in a court in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, adding that he would not apply to Turkish authorities to seek political asylum.
"I will continue to stay in Turkey until this political problem is solved, if Turkey accepts it. Otherwise, there are many countries who would accept me. I do not want to be a burden on Turkey," he said.
"I am not worried about my own life. But I am worried about the future of my country and the relations between Turkey and Iraq."
Lawyers defending Al-Hashemi surprised with change of judges
BAGHDAD (AA) - September 10, 2012 - Head of lawyers defending Iraqi Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi, Muayyad al-Izzi, has said that they were surprised with change of judges on trial day over Al-Hashemi's case.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency correspondent on Monday, Muayyad al-Izzi said that they had heard about several speculations on change of the judges who look after al-Hashemi's case before the verdict.
"When we arrived the court room, we met with new judges as we had heard. We were very surprised," said Muayyad al-Izzi.
Stating that all evidences were poor against Al-Hashemi, Al-Izzi stated that the decision came out as they had expected.
