Iraqi former deputy PM dies at age of 79

[k98nights]

Iraqi former deputy PM dies at age of 79

Saturday, January 28, 2012 12:59 GMT

Iraqi Justice Ministry announced, on Friday, that Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister in the former regime Hikmat Al Azawi died when he was being transferred to hospital from prison for treatment.

“Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister in the former regime Hikmat Al Azawi died, on Friday at the age of 79, when he was being transferred to hospital from his prison in Baghdad for treatment,” spokesman for Justice Ministry Haidar Al Saadi told Alsumarianews.

“Before he died, Azawi’s health condition was deteriorating because of aging,” Saadi added.

Hikmat Ibrahim Mizian Al Azawi, who was a member of the dissolved Baath Party, was born in 1933 and worked in economy and finance fields.

Azawi assumed the post of Iraq’s Central Bank governor then was appointed as Finance Minister from 1995 until 1998. He was dismissed for several months following a disagreement with Uday and Qusay, the two sons of Saddam Hussein, for refusing to transfer a large sum of money abroad. He was reappointed as Finance Minister in 1999, a source told Alsumaria.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister in former President Saddam Hussein’s government Hikmat Al Azawi was number 45 on the Iraqi Wanted List in the US. He was captured on April 19, 2003 and handed over to the US military.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-73237-Iraqi-former-deputy-PM-dies-at-age-of-79.html