Saddam Hussein henchman Tariq Aziz has been acquitted of mass murder in one of the cases pending against him.

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s special criminal court on Monday acquitted Tariq Aziz, the man who once served as the urbane, cigar-smoking public face of Saddam Hussein’s rule, delivering the most significant not guilty verdict in a series of prosecutions for crimes against humanity that occurred before the American invasion in 2003.

Mr. Aziz, who will turn 73 next month, remained in custody, facing charges in two other cases. Only hours after his acquittal, he appeared before another judge to defend himself against charges that he was involved in the massacre of Kurds in 1983.