Judge, lawyer on Iraq war
crimes tribunal killed

The tribunal official said Tuesday’s killings are the first of any staff working on the Iraqi Special Tribunal, which consists of more than 60 investigative, appellate and trial judges. An official familiar with the court said al-Merwani was an investigative judge.

Judges and other legal staff working at the court have not even been identified in public because of concerns for their safety, and tribunal officials have kept a low-profile for the same reason, even refusing to say where the court is located.

The Iraqi Special Tribunal was set up in late 2003 after Saddam was toppled. But after five potential candidates were killed, some judges declined calls to work at the court. At least half of the tribunal’s budget has gone to security.

The court official said the slain judge was one of more than 60 investigative, appellate and trial judges working at the court. An official familiar with the court said al-Merwani was an investigative judge.

5 referred to trial
The announcement Monday by the tribunal marked the first time that the special court issued referrals. No date was given for that trial.

The five referred to trial included Barzan Ibrahim al-Hassan al-Tikriti, one of Saddam’s half brothers, and former vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan. The three others were senior Baath Party members.

Saddam was captured in December 2003, and others have been in custody for nearly two years.

U.S. military officials transferred 12 of the top defendants to Iraqi custody in June with the handover of sovereignty. They’re being held at an undisclosed location near Baghdad International Airport, west of the capital.

News of the deaths came as two car bombs exploded in the capital, killing 10 Iraqi soldiers and wounding dozens of others

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