Iraq’s Tariq Aziz sentenced to death

BAGHDAD - Former Iraqi foreign minister Tariq Aziz was sentenced to death by hanging by a Baghdad court Tuesday.

The death sentence by the High Court in Baghdad was for his role in the persecution of Iraqi religious parties.

Aziz was already serving a 15-year sentence after being found guilty with seven co-defendants for the execution of traders in 1992 under the regime of Saddam Hussein.

Aziz, now 74, also served as deputy prime minister under Saddam. He suffered a stroke in January.