Saddam's former Foreign Minister, in court over merchant murders

Tariq Aziz, once the international face of Saddam Hussein’s regime, is due toappear in a Baghdad court tomorrow accused of playing a part in theexecution of a group of merchants more than 15 years ago.

Mr Aziz, the former deputy prime minister and one-time foreign minister, andseven others are acused of killing 42 merchants in 1992 after blaming themfor increasing food prices when Iraq was suffering under UN sanctions. He isset to deny the charge. Among his co-defendants is Ali Hasan al-Majid,better known as "Chemcial Ali", who is already on death row.