An Iraqi appeals court has upheld the death sentence for Saddam Hussein's former vice president, Taha Yassin Ramadan, for his role in the killing of 148 Shi'ite Muslims in 1982.
The court confirmed Thursday that Ramadan will be hanged, which is the method of state execution in Iraq.
The government now has to set a date for the execution.
Ramadan was convicted late last year with Saddam Hussein and six others.
Ramadan initially was sentenced to life in prison. But an appeals court ruled that sentence was too lenient and asked the lower court to consider the death penalty.
The decision to give Ramadan the maximum sentence ignored appeals from international human rights groups.
Saddam Hussein was hanged in December, and two of his co-defendants were executed in January.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP .
