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Saddam trial resumes in Baghdad court 28.11.2005
By Michael Georgy
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BAGHDAD, Nov 28
(Reuters) - The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven
aides on charges of crimes against humanity resumed
after a 40-day break on Monday, with the chief judge
expected to consider defence motions for a further
adjournment.
Saddam, carrying a copy of the Koran under his arm,
was the last of the defendants to enter the
fortified courtroom. Before sitting down he said to
those in the room: "Peace to the people of peace."
Two of his co-defendants stood as Saddam entered.
The former Iraqi president was wearing a white shirt
and a dark jacket and did not appear to be shackled.
A mortar round landed in Baghdad's fortified "green
zone" where the court is based hours before the
session began, increasing security concerns. Two
defence lawyers were killed by gunmen shortly after
the trial began on Oct. 19.
Defence lawyers have said they will argue for up to
a three-month adjournment to give them more time to
prepare their case. The chief judge, Rizgar Mohammed
Amin, had granted the defence a 40-day adjournment
after the first court session.
If the new delay motion is rejected, prosecution
witnesses are expected to give evidence for the
first time.
The charges relate to the imprisonment, torture and
killing of 148 young Shi'ite men from the village of
Dujail, north of Baghdad, following an attempt on
Saddam's life in July 1982. The defendants have all
pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The accused could face death by hanging if found
guilty.
COURT'S STATUS
At the first court session, Saddam showed defiance
towards the chief judge and called into question the
legitimacy of the U.S.-funded court. If given a
chance to speak, he is likely to choose the same
approach again, defence lawyers have said.
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Chief
judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin, a Kurd from Sulaimaniyah
city
Photo : Reuters
Former dictator Saddam Hussein
Photo : AFP
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Former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark and a
former justice minister of Qatar were permitted to
join the defence team as advisers in the courtroom.
Clark, a controversial figure who has advised
Serbia's Slobodan Milosevic in the past, has said he
intends to challenge the court's legal status.
While the judge has said around 30 witnesses could
testify, only a handful were expected to appear on
Monday if the proceedings reached that stage.
Residents of Dujail told Reuters at the weekend that
death threats had already been made against some
witnesses.
Most of the 40-day break since the first session has
been dominated by security issues after one defence
lawyer was murdered the day after the trial began
and another on Nov. 8, throwing proceedings into
chaos. A third fled Iraq after death threats.
An Iraqi police chief told Reuters on the eve of the
resumption that eight men had been detained and had
confessed to plotting to kill the court's chief
investigator, Raed Jouhi.
Jouhi built the case against Saddam and has been the
public face of the tribunal.
The 10 or so Iraqi lawyers still involved in
representing the eight defendants agreed to return
to court only after promises of undisclosed
improvements in security were made.
Reuters
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