The chief judge in
Saddam Hussein's trial was under mounting pressure
yesterday to review his planned resignation. Rizgar
Mohammed Amin wrote last week saying he could no
longer continue. The letter followed repeated
criticism, including from Iraqi government
officials, that he was giving too much leeway to the
former Iraqi president and co-defendants.
Judge Amin, a Kurd from Sulaimaniyah city, had
seemed confident and relaxed during the trial, never
showing anger or impatience at Saddam's repeated
grandstanding. He seemed to think it was better to
let the trial run its course rather than be provoked
into censoring defendants.
Reuters news agency quoted a source close to Judge
Amin as saying that he had had complaints from the
government that he was being too soft in dealing
with Saddam. "They want things to go faster," he
said. The last straw had been a letter of criticism
from the radical Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr.
The judge's departure would have no formal impact on
the trial, as he could be replaced, but it would be
a blow to the US.
One of the five-strong panel of judges, speaking to
the Associated Press news agency, said efforts were
under way to persuade the judge to change his mind.
"The atmosphere is positive. It seems Rizgar might
back down," he said. |
Rizgar Amin, Chief judge in the trial of Saddam
Hussein
Photo : AFP
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