Tariq Aziz back in court

Former Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz and several other members of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime have appeared in court.

The court session was held just days after their handover from the US to Iraqi custody, an Iranian official said.

Aziz, who was the international face of Saddam’s regime for several years, was taken to court along with 15 other people on Saturday to face a new trial, just days after their handover from the US to Iraqi custody, his Amman-based lawyer said.

The court charged Aziz with squandering the public wealth and he will face a new trial, AP quoted his lawyer Badee Izzat Aref as saying.

He has already been convicted by the Iraqi High Tribunal and has received two prison sentences: 15 years for his role in the 1992 execution of 42 merchants allegedly guilty of profiteering and 7 years for his involvement in forced displacement of the Kurds in northern Iraq.

The court has charged Aziz with squandering the public wealth, the lawyer said.

Aziz, 73, turned himself in to US forces in April 2003 and is one of Saddam’s few surviving top cohorts.