Profile: Tariq Aziz

Aziz was 43rd in the US "most wanted" set of 55 playing cards

Former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz was the face of Saddam Hussein's regime on the world stage for many years.

Mr Aziz, now 72, first came to world prominence with his fluent English, trademark black-rimmed glasses and Cuban cigars while serving as foreign minister during the first Gulf War in 1991.

Shortly before and US-led invasion of Iraq last year, he tried to drum up international support for Iraq and he met Pope John Paul II to call for peace.

Mr Aziz - a Christian in a mainly Sunni Muslim government - was not considered a member of Saddam Hussein's innermost circle, dominated by members of the Tikriti clan.

He surrendered into US custody on 24 April 2003 - days after the invasion of Iraq.

As a member of the Revolutionary Command Council, he is accused by Indict, the committee seeking to prosecute the Iraqi leadership, of war crimes against Iran, Kuwait and his own people.

The Eight of Spades came 43rd in the United States' set of 55 playing cards depicting "the most-wanted members of the former Iraqi regime".

Journalism career

Mr Aziz was born in 1936 near Mosul, northern Iraq. His family circumstances were humble - his father was a waiter.

TARIQ AZIZ Born in 1936, near Mosul, northern Iraq Studied English literature and became a journalist The most senior Christian in the toppled regime Enlisted US support for war on Iran Met US President Ronald Reagan at the White House in 1984 Was Saddam Hussein's deputy for more than a decade In US custody since April 2003

The young Mr Aziz studied English literature at university in Baghdad before pursuing a career in journalism and becoming editor of the Baath Party's main newspaper.

This stood him in good stead for his first ministerial role, as Iraq's minister of information in the 1970s.

In 1977, he joined the Revolutionary Command Council - the committee of senior Baath Party officials which effectively ruled Iraq.

At home, Mr Aziz managed to survive shifting fortunes, from Saddam's political purges to an assassination attempt by Iranian-backed radicals in 1980.

He was said by those who knew him to be calm, articulate and suave.

Iraq's 'Groucho Marx'

Mr Aziz had played the role of diplomat at key moments in Iraq's recent history.

He managed to enlist American support for Baghdad in its eight-year conflict with Iran, and to forge strong economic ties with the Soviet Union.

In 1984, Iraq and the US restored diplomatic relations after a meeting at the White House between Mr Aziz and the late President Ronald Reagan.

Mr Aziz became an instantly-recognisable figure in the world media after the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the first Gulf War that ensued.

He embarked on a frantic round of visits to foreign capitals to drum up support for Baghdad and held talks with US Secretary of State James Baker.

Shortly before hostilities started, Mr Aziz famously refused to accept a letter from the then President George Bush to Saddam Hussein at a meeting in Geneva with Mr Baker, signalling the inevitability of military action.

Mr Aziz's trademark cigars - and his glasses and moustache - have repeatedly drawn comparisons with the US movie star, Groucho Marx.