Iraq Court Sentences Absent Vice President to Death

Sunni accused of running death squads against security forces and Shiites

An Iraqi court on Sunday found the nation's Sunni vice president guilty of running death squads against security forces and Shiites, and sentenced him to death in absentia.

Tariq al-Hashemi, who has denied the charges, wasn't in court to hear the verdict against him. He fled the country after the terror charges were leveled against him in December and is currently in Turkey.