BAGHDAD (AP) — An Iraqi court postponed the terror trial against the country’s fugitive vice president for a second time Thursday, with his lawyers demanding a special tribunal to hear the case that he says was brought by political enemies.

Tariq al-Hashemi’s legal team said it is still waiting to hear whether Iraq’s Supreme Court will agree to move the trial from Baghdad’s criminal court to a new court appointed by parliament.

Al-Hashemi is one of Iraq’s highest-ranking Sunnis and is accused of running death squads that targeted Shiite officials and pilgrims. He denies the charges.

The case threatens to paralyze Iraq’s government by fueling simmering Sunni and Kurdish resentments against the Shiite prime minister, who critics claim is monopolizing power.

Al-Hashemi lawyer Muayad Obeid al-Ezzi said the next court hearing is May 15.