BAGHDAD, Aug. 4 (Saba) -- A former Saddam Hussien loyalist was set free after being cleared of draining the marshlands in the country's south, while other codefendants were sentenced ranging from death penalty to seven years in prison, an official said on Wednesday, according to Xinhua.

Khamis Sirhan al-Muhammad, the No. 54 of the 55 most wanted Saddam officials, was freed several days ago and has been receiving hundreds of guests in his house in Saqlawiyah town, some 50 km west of Baghdad, the official, also a relative of Muhammad, told Xinhua on condition of anonymity, adding the Iraqi police is safeguarding his house.

Muhammad had been the Baath Party regional command leader and commander for Saddam's militia in Iraq's western Anbar province. He was captured on Jan. 11, 2004, under accusation of helping the former regime drain the country's marshlands during a crackdown against Shiite rebels.

Earlier in the week, the Iraqi High Criminal Court issued verdicts against the case's other codefendants, including a death penalty for Mizban Khidir Hadi, the No. 23 most wanted Saddam officials, a Justice Ministry official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Hadi was a member of the Revolutionary Command Council, the most powerful body during Saddam's rule. He was captured on July 9, 2003 after President Saddam Hussien was toppled by the U.S.-led international coalition in March 2003.

Among the 32 codefendants, the court sentenced former Defense Minister Sultan Hashim al-Taie 15 years in prison and seven years for Aziz Salih al-Numan, another senior Baath Party member, the source said.

Saddam Hussien's regime drained 90 percent of Iraq's ancient marshes which have been allegedly used by Shiite rebels as shelter and launch pad during their uprising against the Saddam regime.

Saba