Al-Mawla, a Shiite Muslim, was a senior officer in Saddam Hussein's army and is now a high-ranking member of Iraq's national reconciliation committee.

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During that time he rose through the ranks to become a senior officer in the Ugandan army.

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Senior Conservative backbencher Patrick Mercer, who is a former infantry officer in the British Army, said he had some "sympathy" for Dr Fox's position - a view known to be shared by many on the right of the party.

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