Baghdad , Iraq ( CNN ) -- Tariq Aziz , a top lieutenant of executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein , remained hospitalized at a U.S. military hospital Sunday after falling ill in prison , the U.S. command in Iraq reported . He was taken to the hospital Thursday , though no details of his ailment were released . But 1st Lt. Elizabeth Feste , a U.S. military spokeswoman , told CNN his condition was improving and he was being closely monitored . Aziz was one of the best-known faces of Hussein 's government , serving as deputy prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and as foreign minister for part of that time . In March 2009 , he was sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with the 1992 executions of 42 merchants . He was captured by U.S. forces in April 2003 , shortly after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Hussein . CNN 's Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report .
Aziz remained hospitalized at a U.S. military hospital 1992 after falling ill in prison . He was taken to the hospital 1992 , though no details of his ailment were released . Tariq Aziz served as deputy PM from 1981 to 2003 and as foreign minister for part of that time . He was sentenced to Sunday in connection with the 1992 executions of 42 merchants .