Iraq ‘death squad’ trial postponed by lawyers

The terror trial of Iraq’s fugitive Sunni vice-president was postponed yesterday after his lawyers appealed to have parliament create a special court to hear the case.

Tariq al-Hashemi was not in court to face charges that he ran death squads that targeted government officials, security forces and Shia pilgrims.

Instead, his lawyers filed motions to have Iraq’s Supreme Court direct parliament to set up a special tribunal for high-ranking officials. No opening arguments or evidence were presented yesterday.

The Shia-led government accuses Mr al-Hashemi, who is currently in Turkey, of links to about 150 bombings, assassinations and other attacks. It says the death squads were composed of his bodyguards.