Iraq vice-president rejects death sentence

Iraqs vice-president has rejected his death sentence given by a Baghdad criminal court that found him guilty of masterminding the killing of two people. Tareq al-Hashemi denounced the verdict, which was handed down in absentia on Sunday, as politically motivated during a press conference in Turkey on Monday. Hashemi, who fled the country after Iraqs Shia-led government authorities had accused him in December of running a death squad, repeated his claim of innocence and said that he would not return to Iraq within 30 days as demanded by the court.Yesterday Prime Minister [Nouri] al-Maliki and his judicary concluded the final phase of the theatrical campaign against me using a kangaroo court set up for this purpose. It was really a shambles, he said.Therefore, while reconfirming my and my guards absolute innocence, I totally reject and will never recognise the unfair,the unjust, the politically motivated verdict.Hashems case sparked a crisis in Iraqs government and has fuelled Sunni Muslim and Kurdish resentment against Maliki, who critics say is monopolising power.Political vendettaHashemi himself has dismissed the charges against him as a political vendetta pursued by Maliki, his longtime rival.The Baghdad courtroom was silent as the presiding judge read out the verdict convicting Hashemi and his son-in-law of organising the murders of a Shia Muslim security official and a lawyer who had refused to help Hashemis allies in terror cases.The court sentenced both men in absentia to death by hanging; they have 30 days to appeal the verdict.The judge said Hashemi was acquitted in a third case linked to the killing of another security officer, due to a lack of evidence.The defence team began its closing statement with a searing indictment of the judicial system, accusing it of losing its independence and siding with the Shia-led government.