Saddam Charged for 1980s Gassing of Halabja

The Iraqi tribunal charged Hussein on Tuesday with new criminal charges—which stem from the late 1980s gassing that allegedly left 5,000 civilians dead.

These charges, considered among the worst of Saddam’s alleged atrocities, are separate from the others for which he is now standing trial.

Saddam has never recognized the authority of the court to try him—effectively calling it a kangaroo court (and indeed, it’s far from The Hague).

AP:

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraq tribunal on Tuesday announced new criminal charges against Saddam Hussein and six others in a 1980s crackdown against the Kurds, including the gassing of thousands of civilians in the village of Halabja.

Investigative judge Raid Juhi said the charges against Saddam and the others had been filed with another judge, who will review the evidence and order a trial date. The move is tantamount to an indictment under the Iraqi legal system.

The case involves Saddam’s role in Operation Anfal, a three-phase move against Kurds in northern Iraq in the late 1980s. Anfal included the March 16 gas attack against Halabja in which 5,000 people, including women and children died.

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