'Execution' for Iraq war criminals

Saddam Hussein's most notorious henchmen are likely to face the death penalty for war crimes.

Iraq's new governing council, due formally to establish a new war crimes court today, said that most favour execution for those convicted.

Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as Chemical Ali, who is alleged to have ordered the gassing of 5,000 Kurds in 1988, will be among the first on trial.

Also appearing will be Tariq Aziz, former deputy prime minister and one-time spokesman for Saddam.

The court will be run by Iraqi judges with international monitors. Most prosecutions will relate to the suppression of the Shia and Kurdish uprisings in the Nineties in which 300,000 people died.

Meanwhile, British firms expect a bigger share in the reconstruction of Iraq after a ban on countries opposed to the war.

US officials will shut out firms from France, Germany and Russia when they award £12billion in contracts. The tenders will go to those who sent troops, including Britain, Australia and Poland.