Saddam Hussein's half-brother dies in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Sabaawi Ibrahim al-Hassan, a half- brother of ex-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, has died in hospital in Baghdad on Monday, the Iraqi Justice Ministry said.

"The convict Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan, died at 5:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) after being referred to hospital by the prison administration due to a decline in his health," Wisam al-Freiji, spokesman of the ministry, told reporters.

The hospital's medical report showed that al-Hassan died as the result of being infected with cancer, from which he had been suffering since he was in custody of the U.S. troops, Freiji said.

Al-Hassan was sentenced to death by the Iraqi Supreme Criminal Court for his role in crimes against the Iraqi people under Saddam 's regime which was ended by a U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

Al-Hassan, 66, was a top security official under Saddam and was announced captured in 2005. He was one of the 55 most wanted former Iraqi officials by the U.S. troops.

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