AMNESTY URGES IRAQ TO HALT SADDAM-ERA EXECUTIONS

Amnesty International called on Iraqi authorities to halt the upcoming executions of five top officials from Saddam Hussein's regime. "While the Iraqi authorities have a responsibility to bring to justice those responsible for the gross human rights crimes committed under Saddam Hussein, they must not use the death penalty under any circumstances," Malcolm Smart, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director, said. Zatban Ibrahim Hassan, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Sultan Hashem Ahmed, Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti and Aziz Saleh Numan were sentenced to death in different trials from 2007 to 2011.