Fugitive Iraqi vice president denounces death sentence Iraq's fugitive Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi has refused to return to Baghdad where he faces the death sentence after being accused of commanding death squads against his rivals. Speaking at a press conference from exile in Turkey Hashemi said Sunday's judgement by a court in Iraq was illegitimate. Yesterday Prime Minister Maliki and his judiciary concluded the final phase of the theatrical campaign against me using a kangaroo court set up for this purpose. I totally reject and will never recognise the unfair, the unjust, the politically motivated verdict," he said. More than 100 people were killed on Sunday as bombs ripped through the capital and 10 other cities. Many Iraqi's are worried the sentence will spark further violence. Baghdad resident Fakher Hmood said: "I'm not sure the verdict will serve our interests. I am against crime and terrorism but I don't think that the decision is in the interests of the people. Sunday's deadly attacks and the death sentence for Iraq's most senior Sunni politician highlights the ongoing political instability that has been left following the withdrawal of US troops. The rise to power of Iraq's Shi-ite majority has left many Sunnis complaining of being sidelined. More about: Iraq War, Nuri Al-Maliki, Trial