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		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/president-opposes-death-sentence.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="Tariq Aziz was the international face of Saddam Hussein's regime (AP)" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/min-president-opposes-death-sentence.jpg" alt="Tariq Aziz was the international face of Saddam Hussein's regime (AP)"/></a></p>
<p>Iraq&#8217;s president has declared that he will not sign off on the hanging of Tariq Aziz.</p>
<p>He joins the Vatican and others in objecting to the death sentence for the man who for years was the international face of Saddam Hussein&#8217;s regime.</p>
<p>President Jalal Talabani&#8217;s statement sets up a showdown between those seeking maximum punishment for key figures of the ousted regime and groups calling for reconciliation after years of fierce sectarian conflict unleashed by the 2003 US-led invasion.</p>
<p>&#8220;I feel compassion for Tariq Aziz because he is a Christian, an Iraqi Christian,&#8221; Mr Talabani, a Kurd, told France&#8217;s 24 TV. &#8220;In addition, he is an elderly man &#8211; aged over 70 &#8211; and this is why I will never sign this order.&#8221;</p>
<p>However, Mr Talabani&#8217;s opposition does not necessarily mean that Aziz, 74, will escape the noose. He was sentenced in October for his alleged role in a campaign of persecuting, killing and torturing members of Shiite opposition and religious parties that now dominate Iraq.</p>
<p>The Iraqi constitution says death sentences must be ratified by the president before they can be carried out. But there are mechanisms to bypass the president &#8211; such as an act of parliament or the approval of one of Mr Talabani&#8217;s deputies.</p>
<p>Justice Ministry spokesman Abdul-Sattar Bayrkdar said death penalties can be carried out regardless of the president&#8217;s refusal to sign an execution order. &#8220;If the president refuses to sign an execution that is not a veto on a verdict,&#8221; Mr Bayrkdar said.</p>
<p>Although Mr Talabani says the death penalty violates his socialist principles, many convicted criminals and members of the former regime &#8211; including Saddam himself &#8211; have been executed during his presidency.</p>
<p>Mr Talabani has tried to block only one proposed execution &#8211; that of Saddam&#8217;s defence minister, Sultan Hashim al-Taie, a popular figure among the country&#8217;s Sunni minority. Al-Taie, who was sentenced to death three years ago, is still alive.</p>
<p>It is unclear whether Mr Talabani will follow up his comments with a vigorous campaign to save Aziz&#8217;s life.</p>
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