BAGHDAD: An Iraqi court yesterday sentenced Saddam Hussein’s cousin “Chemical Ali” to death for the killing of thousands of Shiites in a ruthless crackdown on their uprising after the 1991 Gulf War.

It was the second death sentence to be handed down against Ali Hassan Al-Majeed, who earned his nickname for his role in using poison gas against Kurdish villages.

Al-Majeed stood quietly as the verdict was read, showing no emotion.

He was first condemned to be hanged last year for the killing of tens of thousands of Kurds in the 1980s, but that sentence has been held up by political wrangling.

The judge did not say when this execution would be carried out, but Al-Majeed can appeal the decision. It was unclear whether this sentence would also be delayed by the political dispute.

Judge Mohammad Al-Uraibi also sentenced a former top Baath Party official, Abdul Ghani Abdul Ghafour, to hang for his involvement in the crackdown on Shiites in the south, and 10 others to sentences ranging from 15 years to life in prison.

“The court has decided to execute by hanging the convicted Ali Hassan Al-Majeed for committing ... willful killings and crimes against humanity,” the judge said.

Saddam’s regime quelled a Shiite uprising in 1991. Investigators discovered dozens of mass graves with thousands of bodies after US forces ousted him in 2003.

As the verdict was read out, Abdul Ghafour, who was the Baath Party official in charge of Iraq’s southern region at the time of the uprising, became agitated.

“I am a martyr for Iraq ... Down with the US occupation! Down with the collaborators! Victory for jihad!” he shouted.

Iraqis in the mainly Shiite south applauded the second death sentence for Al-Majeed.

“He deserves 20 executions because he conducted many crimes and massacres,” said Safah Kadham, a 36-year-old teacher in Basra.