Iraqi judge: execution of vice-President possible

A prominent Iraqi Judge said on Tuesday that the country's Vice-President, Tariq al-Hashimi, might receive a capital punishment if his involvement in terrorist operations is proved. Judge Akram Nizam told FNA that an arrest warrant has been issued for Hashimi by Iraq's Judicial Committee under Article 4 of Terrorism Act and he is accused of participation in terrorist operation. "Article 4 of Iraqi Terrorism Act deals with people who have been involved in terrorist activities more than once and the law considers capital punishment for these people," Nizam stated. "If the court presents proof to substantiate Hashimi's involvement in terrorist plots," the judge said, "he will be executed based on the law." Under "Article 4" of the warrant, Al-Hashimi is cited for terrorism, and is accused of planning bomb attacks against Iraqi government and security officials. At a news conference held by the Interior Ministry on Monday, recorded videos of al-Hashimi's alleged bodyguards confessed to carrying out these attacks under the vice president's orders. "One man said he carried out assassination attempts using roadside bombs and guns with silencers," CNN reported. "He said the orders came from the vice president and at times through the director of his office."