Iraqi politician
Mohammad Mahdi Salih Al-Rawi (Arabic: محمد مهدي صالح الراوي) is an Iraqi politician who was Trade Minister in the government of President Saddam Hussein.[4] He was the Minister of Finance from 1989 to 1991.[5]
Pre-War Career
Salih was born between 1947 and 1949 in Al Anbar Governorate in western Iraq.[6] He was the Chief of Saddam Hussein's Presidential Office in the mid-1980s and then became Minister of Trade from 1987 until the downfall of Hussein.[6]
In October 1995, the United States listed al Salih as a Designated Individual under their programme of sanctions against Iraq.[7] al-Salih guided Ibrahim Hesqel, who was Trade Envoy to China.[8]
2003 Iraq War
Following the United States-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the United States distributed a deck of most-wanted Iraqi playing cards, which included al-Saleh as the "six of hearts".[4] His assets were frozen under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483 as a former official.[6] He was taken into custody by the US on 23 April 2003.[9] He was held by the US military at Camp Cropper, a base just outside Baghdad.[10] In July 2010, seven years after his capture, he was handed over to the custody of the Iraq government.[11]
In 2011 he was found innocent of charges against him and in March 2012 he was released by the Iraqi authorities and immediately left the country.[4]
Post-War
Following the 2013 Al Anbar governorate election, Salih was rumoured to be a candidate supported by the Uniters List for the position of Governor of Anbar.[12][13] The Uniters List later denied the rumours.[14] In 2014 he was living in Amman, Jordan.[citation needed]
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