Iraqi President Orders His Son to Go on Trial in Slaying of Aide

In a rare and illuminating glimpse into the machinations of one of the Middle East’s most powerful personal dynasties, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Monday ordered his eldest son to stand trial for clubbing to death a presidential aide.

Hussein disclosed that his 24-year-old son, Odai, had attempted suicide three times since the killing of the aide, Kamel Hanno Jajjo.

According to Baghdad Radio, the killing took place Oct. 18 on a tourist island in the Tigris River, near the government guest house, Reuters news service reported.

Quoting bodyguards of the president’s son and friends of the slain aide, the broadcast said Jajjo was drunk and firing his pistol and rifle into the air in celebration of the recent cease-fire with Iran.

Hussein said Odai sent his bodyguard to tell Jajjo to stop firing. Jajjo stopped, but resumed firing 15 minutes later.

According to Baghdad Radio, Odai asked Jajjo why he had not obeyed, and then hit him over the head with a stick. Jajjo died the next day.

Such incidents involving close relatives of Arab leaders are rarely if ever publicized in the closely controlled atmosphere of the Middle East, suggesting that the killing has had political repercussions.

Although technically a parliamentary democracy ruled by the Baath Arab Socialist Party, Iraq is one of the world’s most ruthless police states. It is controlled by Hussein, his relatives and friends from the small town of Takrit.

Last month, after eight years of devastating warfare with Iran, Hussein announced that he plans to build a multimillion-dollar presidental palace as a symbol of what he called the nation’s suffering. Gold “donated” by Iraqis for the war effort would be used to gild the gates of the estate, he said.

Hussein has ruled ruthlessly, ordering scores of critics to be put to death. He once reportedly shot and killed his health minister over the Cabinet table.

Odai enjoyed great personal power by virtue of being the son of Iraq’s strongman. In a story famous in Baghdad diplomatic quarters, Odai once was reported to have shot to death a discotheque patron in a Baghdad hotel when the man objected to Odai’s advances to his wife. But that incident was never officially reported, and no legal action was taken.