Dutch court rules Saddam led genocidal campaign against Kurds

Friday, 23 December, 2005 , 14:02

THE HAGUE, Dec 23 (AFP) — A Dutch court on Friday ruled that Saddam Hussein committed genocide against Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s, but acquitted a Dutch chemicals trader of aiding the crime because he did not know the Iraqi regime's genocidal intentions.

The ruling marks the first time a court has ruled that the Iraqi dictator committed genocide in Iraq with the 1988 massacre of Kurds in the town of Halabja.

The attack, which killed more than 5,000 people in a single day, also features among the preliminary charges against the former Iraqi ruler, who is currently on trial in Baghdad.