Iraqi V.P. Hashemi sentenced to death

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BAGHDAD, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- An Iraqi court sentenced fugitive Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi to death for his involvement in the killing of two people, an official said Sunday.

Hashemi was sentenced in absentia to hang "because he was involved directly in killing a female lawyer and a general with the Iraqi army," said Abdul Sattar al-Berqdar, a spokesman for Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council.

"There are many other charges against al-Hashemi, but this is one of the charges he was convicted of," al-Berqdar said

Iraq's Central Criminal Court issued the same sentence for Hashemi's son-in-law, Ahmed Qahtan, who also was at-large, CNN reported.

An arrest warrant was issued against Hashemi in December on charges of running death squads.

Interpol has issued a Red Notice against him for alleged terrorist acts. The Red Notice is an international alert to Interpol member states for help locating and arresting the vice president on terrorism charges brought by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Hashemi has denied the charges against him and said they are politically motivated.