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Video shown of Saddam interrogation over
Shiite Kurd crimes
22.7.2005
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DUBAI, July 21 (AFP)
- 18h58 - Iraqi ousted president Saddam Hussein was
shown Thursday being interrogated by an
investigating judge over crimes against Shiite
Kurds, in a videotape broadcast by Al-Arabiya news
channel.
"You are accused of... deporting and confiscating
money belonging to Shiite Kurds of al-Fayleyah," who
were reportedly killed or deported to Iran on the
eve of the Iran-Iraq war, a single judge was shown
telling the Iraqi ex-dictator.
Long-bearded Saddam, whose shaky voice was barely
audible, accused the current Iraqi government of
being an American puppet.
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Former dictator
Saddam Hussein
Photo : AP |
"I am detained by the
new government which was appointed by the
Americans," he said before the judge interrupted
him, saying: "It was elected by (Iraqi) people."
Saddam also protested not being allowed to see his
lawyer.
"How come that the lawyer does not see the defendant
before the hearing, and does not get informed of the
interrogation session?" he asked on the videotape,
aired by the Dubai-based satellite channel.
Saddam, who wore a gray suit and white open-collared
shirt, appeared defiant and stared straight into the
judge's eyes, who in turn seemed uneasy and avoided
eye contact with the brutal ex-president.
Saddam appeared healthy as he stood straight-backed
and moved briefly in the makeshift courtroom before
sitting to face the judge.
In one part of the video, Saddam lectured the judge
about objectivity.
"You should speak independently, whether in front of
me or others... in front of a foreigner or an
Iraqi," he said.
The judge was heard telling Saddam: "We are an
independent court... We do not belong to anyone."
Saddam also was shown signing a paper, while a voice
was heard saying the paper was an authorisation for
his lawyer.
Al-Arabiya said the interrogation session took place
Thursday.
On Sunday a panel of Iraqi judges filed the first
charges against Saddam in a case relating to the
1982 killing of 143 residents of the Shiite village
of Dujail, northeast of Baghdad.
The killings took place after Saddam survived an
assassination bid in the village.
The former dictator, his half-brother Barzan Ibrahim
Al-Hassan, former vice president Taha Yasin Ramadan,
former top judge Awad Badar Al-Bender and others are
to be tried in connection with this case.
Other investigations, including those of alleged
genocide against the country's Kurdish and Shiite
communities, were still continuing.
Saddam, who was overthrown more than two years ago
after a US-led invasion, has been in US detention
since December 2003, along with dozens of his
deputies.
AFP
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