Iraqi Vice-President Sentenced To Death

Iraq's vice president was sentenced to death by hanging on charges that he masterminded death squads against rivals in a terror trial that has fueled sectarian tensions in the country. Underscoring the instability, an onslaught of bombings and shootings across Iraq killed at least 92 people in one of the deadliest days this year.

It's unlikely that the attacks in 13 cities were all timed to coincide with the afternoon verdict that capped a monthslong case against Vice President Tariq Hashemi, a longtime foe of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

Still, taken together, the violence and verdict could energize Sunni insurgents bent on returning Iraq to the brink of civil war by targeting Shiites and undermining the government.

Hashemi fled to Turkey in the months after the Shiite-led government accused him of playing a role in 150 bombings, assassinations and other attacks from 2005 to 2011 — years in which the country was mired in retaliatory sectarian violence that followed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein's Sunni regime. Most of the attacks were allegedly carried out by Hashemi's bodyguards and other employees, and largely targeted government officials, security forces and Shiite pilgrims.

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 coming hours.