New information received from our Party sources inside Iraq confirm that the bloody mass executions, which the dictatorial regime began last year under the infamous "Prisons Cleanup" campaign, are still continuing.

Information received about some of the new victims indicates that the mass execution campaign was still continuing in June 1998, and that it is estimated to be claiming the lives of tens of detainees every month.

In the areas where this information was gathered, from only three provinces; Najaf, Babel and Kerbala, the number of detainees who were executed in May and early June and whose bodies were handed back to their families reached more than 30 people. In other cases, the authorities simply handed "death certificates" to the victim's family, or informed them in some other way about the execution of their beloved.

Most of the victims had been arrested and charged with participating in the March 1991 popular uprising against the regime. Among them is a woman, Sabriyyah Muhallal Aboud, who had been detained since 1991. Her body was handed to her family in early May 1998.

These recent executions are an extension of the above-mentioned campaign which began on a large scale late last year and resulted in the physical liquidation of about 1500 detainees who had been languishing in prisons for many years. Hundreds more innocent citizens were annihilated in a similar manner in early 1998.

As we pointed out in earlier statements, the victims are usually citizens who had been sentenced for their opposition to the regime or for doubting their allegiance to it. They had been indicated in sham trials where the accused are denied the most basic right of self-defense.

While presenting this new information, which is further proof that the killings in Abu Ghriab prison and other detention centres are still continuing, we call once again upon the relevant UN bodies and human rights organisations, to exert greater efforts to bring this massacre to an end and prevent the bloody rulers in Baghdad from committing further crimes.

Thousands more of our people, who are unjustly held in Saddam's prisons, are threatened with imminent death spelled out in decrees issued directly from the "Presidential Office". At this very moment, as these words are being written or read, the life of yet another innocent victim could be brutally terminated.

Let the voices be raised anew and aloud, to still the hands of the bloody rules and mass murderers, and save the lives of thousands of our people who live under the shadow of death every day and every hour!

In accordance with this Decree issued by the Presidential Office on 13/7/1997, we agree to the execution of the accused, held in solitary cells at your penitentiary department, who number 730 convicts and had been indicated by military courts and special courts, who had engaged in smuggling, acted against the state and worked for overthrowing the Iraqi government by various means. The text of the Presidential Decree is as follows: In accordance with the provisions of Article 162-159-160-156-157, Clauses a-b-c-d, we ratify the carrying out of the death sentence, and the officials in charge are to implement this decree.
Written in Baghdad on 13/7/1997
President Saddam Hussein

Second: from Babel governorate

1. Bashar Saheb al-Jabek: a teacher from Hilla city - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in late May 1998.
2. Mohammed abdul Amir al-Kurdi: from al-Ta'is district in Hilla, owner of a hairdressing shop in Bab al-Mashhad - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in early June 1998.
3. Kadhem Jawad Hussein: from al-Mejareya district in Hilla - detained since mid 1995, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in early June 1998.
4. Hayder Jaafar Awadh: from Hilla, a student in Engineering College - detained since 1991, executed in early May 1998, and his body was handed back to his family in the same month.
5. Abbass Jabr Ayyash: from al-Nabi Ayoub district in Hilla, a custodian of the shrine - detained since 1991, executed in early May 1998, and his body was handed back to his family.
6. Ali Kadhem Ajaj: from the rural area of al-Madhatiyya district - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in early April 1998.
7. Mohammed Mutashar Mandeel: from al-Madhatiyya district - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in early April 1998.
8. Hussein Ali al-Awadi: a soldier from al-Madhatiyya district - detained since 1991, was executed in late March 1.1998 and his body was handed back to his family.
9. Hamza Jabr Alewi: from al-Qassem district - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in early June 1998.
10. Sabriyya Muhallal Aboud: from al-Qassem district, al-Qasba al-Qadeema - She had been detained since 1991, was executed and her body was handed back to her family in early May 1998.
11. Ali Ubayyes al-Jubouri: from Souq Dohan district - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in early May 1998.
12. Hassan abdul Wahed Atewi: a teacher from al-Talee'a county, in al-Hashemiyya district - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in early May 1998.
13. Jamil Issa Fudhalah: from al-Talee'a county, a medical assistant in al-Hashimiyyah Hospital - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in May 1998.
14. Fadhel Abbass Mureahej: a teacher from al-Talee'a county - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in May 1998. 15. Saad Kadhem Hatef: an agriculture engineer from al-Talee'a county, al-Bazl area - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in June 1998.
16. Ali Abed Karim: from al-Talee'a county, al-Jother tribe - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in early May 1998.

Third: from Kerbala governorate

1. Hayder Mohammed Ali al-Usheager: from Kerbala city, Hay al-Hussein district - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in June 1998.
2. Flayyeh Hassan Salman: from Kerbala city, Hay al-Hur district - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in May 1998.
3. Hayder Abbass Zbalah: from Kerbala, Hay al-Jahez district, an engineer at the governorate's Directorate of Roads and Bridges - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in May 1998.
4. Ammar Abed Ali Jodah: from Kerbala, Bab al-Khan district, a coffeehouse owner - detained since 1991, was executed in May 1998 and his body was handed back to his family.
5. Abbass Ali Kadhem: from Kerbala city, Hay al-Baath district, owner of a shop for repairing audio equipment - detained since 1991, was executed and his body was handed back to his family in May 1998.
N.B. All the above - mentioned victims had been arrested and charged with participating in the March 1991 popular uprising against the dictatorial regime.

Fourth: Others from Babel governorate, al-Kifel

1. Adel Jaber Ali: a health employee - had been detained since late1980s, charged with affiliation to the opposition forces. His family was told that he had been executed in early May 1998.
2. Murtadha Jaber Hussein: a shop owner - had detained since late 1980s, charged with affiliation to the opposition forces. His family was told that he had been executed in mid April 1998.