Saddam-era culture minister released after 6 years in prisonApril 13, 2012 - 20:24 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Hamed Yussef Hamadi, who was a culture minister under Saddam Hussein, has been released after over six years in prison and has left Iraq, a justice ministry spokesman and a lawyer said on Friday, April 13, AFP reported. Justice ministry spokesman Haidar al-Saadi said that Hamadi had been released, but provided no further details. Lawyer Badie Aref, who represented 17 Saddam-era officials, including former deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz, said that Hamadi was released from detention in Kadhimiyah prison in Baghdad on Thursday, and has left the country. Hamadi, 72, was arrested on January 24, 2006. During Saddam's rule, he served as information and culture minister, then culture minister after the two ministries were split, and also as secretary of the presidency. Deputy Justice Minister Busho Ibrahim said that Hamadi was charged in the course of several trials of former Iraqi officials, but was acquitted. Hamadi was the secretary of Saddam at the time of the massacre of 148 villagers in Dujail in 1982 after an attack on the presidential motorcade. He testified on February 14, 2006 that "I know nothing about this incident," adding he had never been privy to any of the security-related communiques directed to Saddam, something the former Iraqi president had confirmed. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenian delegation participating in NATO PA session The delegation is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the chairman of the standing committee on defense and security matters. Schengen visa cost won’t change for Armenia – diplomat The increase in the cost of a Schengen visa will not apply to citizens of Armenia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said. Yeremyan Projects opens state-of-the-art dairy production plant Yeremyan Projects officially launched the Yeremyan Products state-of-the-art milk processing plant in Yerevan on May 24. Armenian PM’s helicopter makes emergency landing in Vanadzor The helicopter transporting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an emergency landing in Vanadzor. |