Saddam Hussein's half-brother executed

Baghdad, Jan 15: A lawyer for one of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants said he and anothercondemned aide were hanged today, although there was no officialconfirmation.

Badia Aref told CNN the son of his client, Awad al-Bander, hadtold him that U.S. officials had informed him that both the formerjudge and Saddam's half-brother, Barzan al-Tikriti, had been executed.

A senior prosecutor, Munkith al-Faroon, denied telling media that the executions had taken place. Other senior Iraqi and US officials were not available for comment.

Reuters