World

Iraqi Foreign Minister Tarik Aziz, speaking at the United Nations, denied reports of an attempted coup last month in Baghdad against President Saddam Hussein and the execution of participants. “It’s completely baseless; I absolutely denied it,” Aziz told reporters. Iraqi dissidents and intelligence sources reported earlier this week that as many as 200 Iraqi army officers and civilians from the ruling Arab Baath Socialist Party have been executed over the last two months for involvement in the coup attempt. Aziz was at U.N. headquarters, where he and his Iranian counterpart, Ali Akbar Velayati, announced their readiness to resume stalled peace negotiations, possibly today.