Saddam cousin says ordered Kurd villages cleared

BAGHDAD, Jan 11 (Reuters) Saddam Hussein's cousin today told court trying him for genocide that he had ordered troops to ''execute'' all those who ignored government orders to leave villages during a military operation against Kurds in 1988.

''Yes, I gave my instructions to consider these villages as prohibited areas and I gave orders to the troops to catch anyone they find there and execute them after investigating them,'' Hassan al-Majeed, known as ''Chemical Ali'' said.

''I'm responsible for the displacing and I took this decision on my own, without going back to the High Military Command or the Baath Party commander. I say that before your court and before God,'' he told the court.

REUTERSSB MIR BST1941