Iraq’s fugitive Sunni vice-president Tareq al-Hashemi was sentenced on Sunday to death by hanging on charges he masterminded death squads against rivals in a terror trial that has fuelled sectarian tensions in the country. His secretary, who is  also his son-in-law, Ahmed Qahtan, was also sentenced to death. The trial began in May to consider 150 charges against Hashemi and his body-guards. But Hashemi denied all the accusations saying they are part of political revenge against him.

Former Iraqi vice-president sentenced in absentia to death

The vice-president declined to immediately comment on the verdict after meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara. He said he would "tackle this issue in a statement" in the coming hours.

Meanwhile, at least 58 people were killed in a series of bombs and gunfire attacks across Iraq on Sunday in what appeared to be an attempt by insurgent groups to destabilize the country and undermine confidence in the Iraqi government. The deadliest attack of the day occurred near the city of Amara, some 365 km south of Baghdad, when two car bombs exploded at a marketplace in the town, killing 16 people.