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IRAQ'S presidency has endorsed the execution of Saddam Hussein's cousin known as 'Chemical Ali', who was sentenced to death for his role in the 1980s scorched-earth campaign against Kurds.
The endorsement by Iraq's President Jalal Talabani and two vice-presidents is the final step in the approval of Ali Hassan al-Majid's death sentence, which must be carried out within 30 days of the decision.
Al-Majid was one of three former Saddam officials sentenced in June last year to hang after being convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for their part in the Anfal crackdown that killed nearly 200,000 Kurdish civilians and guerillas.
The other two are Sultan Hashim al-Tai, Saddam's defence minister, and Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, his armed forces deputy chief of operations.
But legal wranglings held up the process and an appeals court upheld the verdict in September.
Al-Majid got the nickname 'Chemical Ali' after he ordered gas attacks on Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s while he was defence minister.
The government adviser said the presidency has not yet approved the death sentences on the other two.
Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi has said he does not believe army officers should be punished for following the orders of their political masters.
The US military, which has custody of former members of Saddam's government, said it had not received a request to hand Al-Majid over to the Iraqi authorities.
ASSOCIATED PRESS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
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