Al-Majid admits ordering executions

Ali Hassan al-Majid, the former head of the Iraqi military's northern command, has said that he ordered troops to execute villagers who refused to leave their homes during an operation against the Kurds in 1988.

Saddam Hussein's former aide is on trial with five former Baath party officials for their alleged roles in the 1988 Anfal campaign.

"Yes, I gave my instructions to consider these villages as prohibited areas and I gave orders to the troops to catch anyone they find there and execute them after investigating them," al-Majid said.

He spoke out after prosecutors played tapes they said were of him talking about the need to purge "Kurdish saboteurs" from villages.

"The saboteurs are depending on the scattered villages to get support, ammunition and tips," a voice which prosecutors identified as al-Majid's was heard saying on the audiotape.