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Saddam Hussein's Kurdish genocide trial
resumes after an 11-day break
18.12.2006
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BAGHDAD, Iraq,
December 18, -- Saddam Hussein's trial on genocide
charges against the Kurds resumed
Monday after an 11-day break.
Saddam Hussein said on Monday he would take
responsibility "with honour" for any attacks on Iran
using conventional or chemical weapons during the
1980-1988 war but he took issue with charges he
ordered attacks on Iraqis.
The former president and six others are on trial for
the Anfal -- Spoils of War -- military campaign
against ethnic Kurds in northern Iraq in the 1980s
in which prosecutors say up to 180,000 people were
killed in gas attacks and mass executions.
"In relation to Iran, if any military or civil
official claims that Saddam gave orders to use
either conventional or special ammunition, which as
explained is chemical, I will take responsibility
with honour," Saddam told the court. |
Former dictator Saddam Hussein
Photo : AFP |
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But he
added: "I will discuss any act committed against our
people and any Iraqi citizen, whether Arab or
Kurdish. I don't accept any insult to my principles
or to me personally."
The court was expected to hear more witnesses
against the former Iraqi president and six other
co-defendants, who have pleaded innocent to charges
of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their
alleged roles in a military offensive against the
Kurds, codenamed Operation Anfal.
Saddam and one other defendant have pleaded innocent
to the additional charge of genocide.
If convicted, all the accused could be condemned to
death.
Saddam has already been condemned to death in a
separate trial where he was convicted of ordering
the execution of 148 Iraqis, including children,
after an attempt to assassinate him in the town of
Dujail in 1982.
Early this month, his lawyers appealed against the
other trial's verdict and sentence. The appeal court
is expected to rule in early January.
Iraqi officials have suggested that Saddam's
prosecution on genocide charges would be halted if
the appeals court upholds the death sentence of the
first trial.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Friday he
hoped it would only be a matter of days before an
appeals court rules on Saddam's death sentence.
AP | Reuters
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