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\fs26 An Iraqi court has sentenced Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi to death, in-absentia,
for what it calls his role in the murders of a lawyer and government security official.
\fs24 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \fs26 The court sentenced al-Hashimi to hanging
for alleged involvement in the murders, though the vice president denies the charges. He
fled the country months ago, and calls the accusations part of a \'93black comedy.\'94
\fs24 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtf6yj_death-sentence-for-fugitive-iraqi-vice-president_news"}}{\fldrslt
\fs26 \cf3 \ul \ulc3 Euronews adds}} \fs26 ...
\fs24 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \b\fs26 \'93His case triggered a crisis of
the power-shared government among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds...\'94
\b0\fs24 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \fs26 Al-Hashimi is Iraq\'92s highest-ranking
Sunni politician. {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3877731.ece"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 According to The Hindu}}, al-Hashimi dismissed the charges as a political ploy
by his longtime rival, Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
\fs24 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19537301"}}{\fldrslt
\fs26 \cf3 \ul \ulc3 And the BBC reports}} \fs26 \'97 some Sunni politicians \'a0have
accused al-Maliki of provoking sectarian conflict. \fs24 \uc0\u8232 \u8232
\fs26 Death in-absentia is a legal status imposed on an individual missing for at least
seven years. The government then considers that individual legally deceased. {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/9531783/Iraqs-vice-president-Tareq-al-Hashemi-sentenced-to-death.html"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 The Telegraph\'92s Middle East
correspondent,}} Richard Spencer, says the ruling won\'92t have much effect in practical
terms, but... \fs24 \uc0\u8232 \u8232
\b\fs26 \'93...they leave a gaping void at the heart of Iraqi politics, at a time when
the Shia prime minister is asserting ever greater authority over the country.\'94
\b0\fs24 \uc0\u8232 \u8232 \fs26 Al-Hashimi is reported to be in exile
in Turkey/ The New York Times reports the ruling came hours after a wave of sectarian
violence which killed more than 50 people across Iraq. Hashimi has 30 days to appeal
the verdict. \fs24 \
}