Tariq Aziz, one of the best-known faces of the Iraqi government for more than two decades, will be executed next year, after U.S. forces have pulled out of the country, an adviser to Iraq’s prime minister told CNN on Monday.

“It will definitely take place, and it will take place after the Americans leave Iraq,” said the adviser, Saad Yousif al-Muttalibi, about Aziz, who served as foreign minister.

A lawyer for Aziz said he was surprised. “I did not expect the government would be that stupid, by doing this they will drag this country to the edge of the abyss,” said Badi Arif in a telephone interview.

(Source: CNN)