Iraqi Authorities Execute Saddam's Half-Brother, Former Chief Judge

Iraq's government says it has executed two close aides of former president Saddam Hussein for their roles in the killing of 148 Shi'ites in the village of Dujail in 1982.

An Iraqi spokesman confirmed that Saddam's half brother, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, and the former head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court, Awad Hamed al-Bandar, were hanged before dawn on Monday.

Officials say Barzan's head was severed from his body during the hanging in what they called a "rare case" and an "act of God."

Barzan's son-in-law reacted angrily to the news in an interview with an Arabic television network al-Jazeera. He cursed Iraqi Shi'ites with an insult and accused them of seeking revenge against Sunni Muslims.

The executions come two weeks after Saddam was hanged for the Dujail killings in a chaotic scene that has drawn international criticism.

伊拉克政府说，已经处死了前总统萨达姆.候赛因的两名亲密助手，他们的罪名是参与1982年屠杀杜杰勒村的148名什叶派村民。

伊拉克政府发言人证实，萨达姆同母异父的兄弟巴尔赞.易卜拉欣.提克里提以及前伊拉克革命法庭的负责人阿瓦德.哈米德.班达尔星期一黎明前被处以绞刑。

有关官员说，在绞刑过程中，巴尔赞头部“罕见地”断裂，与躯干分离。他们称之为“真主的行动”。

巴尔赞的女婿在接受阿拉伯语半岛电视台采访时对有关消息表示愤怒。他辱骂伊拉克什叶派，并指责他们是在对逊尼派穆斯林实施报复。

两个星期前，萨达姆被以杀害杜杰勒村民的罪名处以绞刑；死刑执行时的混乱局面引发了国际社会的批评。