Aziz Trial on Hold

Posted on Apr 29, 2008

The trial of nine Iraqis—including former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and Ali Hassan al-Majid (aka “Chemical Ali")—who were allegedly involved in the killing of 42 merchants in 1992 was delayed for about three weeks for logistical reasons soon after it started Tuesday.

Al Jazeera English:

The defendants are accused of involvement in the killing of 42 merchants who were accused of manipulating food supplies to drive up prices at a time when many Iraqis were suffering economically.

The merchants were rounded up over two days in July 1992 from Baghdad’s wholesale markets and executed hours later after a quick trial.

Their bodies were returned to their families the following morning.

Relatives of the men deny allegations that they were manipulating prices.

Some believe that they were killed because their power to set prices during sanctions meant they posed a threat to the Saddam regime, Owen Fay, Al Jazeera’s Baghdad correspondent, said.

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