IRAQ: CRIMINAL COURT SENTENCES 8 SHIITE MILITIA LEADERS TO DEATH

May 26, 2009: An Iraqi court in the southern city of Diwaniyah sentenced eight Shiite militia leaders to death penalty over terrorism charges, a local police source said.
"The criminal court of Diwaniyah has sentenced capital punishment against eight leaders of Special Groups under Article 4 of the law of terrorism on charges of murder, abduction, robbery and conducting armed attacks," said Lieutenant Colonel Salim Ali Muter, a city police officer, told Xinhua.
The Special Groups in the terminology of the U.S. military statement refers to the Shiite militia extremists funded, trained and armed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force operatives.
The United States and some Iraqi officials accuse Iran of arming, funding and training Shiite militias in Iraq, which has been denied by Tehran. (Sources: Xinhua, 26/05/2009)