An Iraqi appeals panel has confirmed the death sentence onTaha Yassin Ramadan, who served as
Ramadan was sentenced to death on February 12 for crimesagainst humanity by the Iraqi High Tribunal which is trying former regimeofficials.
His sentence was automatically reviewed by the appeals panelwhich confirmed the execution by hanging on Thursday.
"Yesterday, all the members of the appeals courtratified the death sentence on Taha Yassin Ramadan," Judge Munir Haddad ofthe appeals panel told a press conference.
"He can be hanged at any moment but the official periodis that the sentence be carried out within 30 days of it being confirmed by theappeals court."
A senior Iraqi official said that Ramadan is likely to behanged by the end of March.
Ramadan was originally given a life sentence for his role inthe killing of 148 Shias from the
Saddam and two other former aides, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikritiand Awad Ahmed al-Bandar, have all been hanged for crimes against humanitylinked to the Dujail killings.
The former dictator was executed on December 30,2006 while Barzan and Bandar were hanged on January 15, 2007.
