Amnesty calls for probe into Iraq attacks

Amnesty International on Tuesday called on Iraq to investigate a bloody wave of attacks, while condemning a death sentence handed to fugitive Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi. More than 80 people were killed and at least 400 wounded in the series of over 30 attacks across Iraq on Saturday and Sunday, according to security and medical officials. "This horrific wave of attacks shows an utter disregard for humanity," Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement. "The Iraqi authorities must ensure an immediate, thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation is carried out and those responsible are brought to justice in proceedings that comply with the most rigorous internationally recognized standards for fair trial," Sahraoui said. Amnesty also condemned a death sentence handed down on Sunday to Hashemi for the murder of a lawyer and a brigadier general, a decision that has raised tensions in Iraq and threatens to reignite a political crisis that has paralyzed the government for months. "The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, degrading and inhuman punishment and a violation of the right to life. This latest sentence is part of an alarming and sweeping use of the death penalty in Iraq. We call on the authorities to commute Hashemi's sentence immediately," Sahraoui said. Hashemi, a leading Sunni Arab politician who is currently in Turkey, has charged that his trial in absentia was politically motivated and ruled out returning to Iraq until his security is guaranteed and he is assured of a fair trial.