Iraq's President Won't Sign Aziz Death Order

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said on Wednesday he will not sign an execution order for Tareq Aziz, the former deputy of dictator Saddam Hussein sentenced to death last month for crimes against humanity.

"No, I will not sign the execution order for Tareq Aziz, because I am a socialist," Talabani told French television France 24 in an interview.

"I sympathize with Tareq Aziz because he is an Iraqi Christian. Moreover he is an old man who is over 70," he said.