BAGHDAD (AP) -
The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants
was adjourned yesterday until Dec. 21 after two
witnesses testified in a truncated session, which
the ousted president refused to attend to protest
his treatment in prison.
After the prosecution witnesses described beatings
and torture by the regime, Chief Judge Rizgar
Mohammed Amin adjourned the proceedings and said the
court would reconvene six days after the
parliamentary elections next Thursday.
On Tuesday, Saddam had said he would not to take
part in what he called an "unjust" court.
The other defendants and Saddam's attorneys were
present in the courtroom when Judge Amin convened
the session at 3 p.m., about four hours late. Judge
Amin said the court would inform Saddam about or
brief him on the proceedings that took place during
his absence. |
Former dictator Saddam Hussein
Photo : AFP
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The judge then told defense attorneys that the court
will meet with them "after today's hearing to
discuss the security of the lawyers," which became a
major issue after two members were slain.
Gunmen yesterday kidnapped the 8-year-old son of a
bodyguard for one of the judges in the trial.
Saddam and the others are charged in the deaths of
more than 140 Shi'ite Muslims in retaliation for an
assassination attempt against him in the town of
Dujail in 1982. Saddam accused Iran of ordering the
attempt on his life.
Saddam's attorneys said in a statement released in
Jordan that their client did not show up in court to
protest what they termed the mistreatment of him and
his co-defendants in detention.
Court official Raid Juhi told reporters after the
session that Saddam attended a closed-door hearing
that preceded the public session.
At yesterday's session, a witness testified behind a
beige curtain to conceal his identity. The witness
said he was arrested after the assassination attempt
and taken to Ba'ath Party headquarters, where he
found people "screaming because of the beatings."
The witness said Saddam's half brother and
co-defendant Barazan Ibrahim was present.
"When my turn came, the investigator asked me my
name and he turned to Barazan and asked him, 'What
we shall do with him?' Barazan replied: 'Take him.
He might be useful.' We were almost dead because of
the beatings."
Five witnesses -- two women and three men -- related
the events of a 1982 crackdown on Shi'ite Muslims
during yesterday's session.
Throughout the trial, which began Oct. 19, Saddam
has staged confrontations with the court and
attempted to take control of the proceedings with
dramatic rhetorical flourishes.
AP
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