The sentence for Iraqi former deputy prime minister and incumbent foreign minister to be commuted, a source in Iraqi Supreme Criminal Court said.
The minister Tariq Aziz was sentenced to death by hanging in October over the persecution of Iraqi religious parties.
"The court's answer on the request of the Iraqi government for commutation of the death sentence for former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz will be positive," the source said adding that the government is trying to influence the court to commute the sentence, taking into account the special status of Aziz, and pressuring the court from all the sides including with participation of the Vatican, the United Nations, the European Union, Russia.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said on Wednesday he would not sign an execution order for Aziz, French television France 24 reported.
Aziz was already serving a 15-year sentence after being found guilty in the execution of traders in 1992 under the Saddam Hussein regime.
Aziz, now 74, suffered a stroke in January.
BAGDAD, December 18 (RIA Novosti)
