Prosecutors at Saddam Hussein's trial have played a
recording said to be of a phone call in which Saddam
discussed a crackdown on Shia with a co-defendant.
During the call, the ousted leader allegedly
discussed the destruction of farmland in Dujail with
former Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan.
Saddam and seven co-defendants face charges for
their alleged role in the killings of 148 Shia
Muslims in Dujail.
The trial was adjourned until 15 May, when the
defence case is due to begin.
In the recording played to the court, a voice said
to be that of Taha Ramadan said the destruction of
farmland and palm groves in Dujail was nearly
completed, and that owners would receive
compensation, the Associated Press reported.
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Former dictator Saddam Hussein
Photo : AFP
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It also talked of moving "suspect elements" out of
Dujail, and bringing in "replacements".
A voice said to be that of Saddam Hussein was heard
asking questions, but the sound was not clear, the
agency said.
Signatures 'confirmed'
The Baghdad court also heard a report by handwriting
experts confirming Saddam Hussein signed documents
ordering the killing of the 148 Shia villagers,
after an assassination attempt in 1982.
The chief judge, Raouf Abdel Rahman, read a report
by an expanded five-member team of handwriting
experts, who backed the conclusion heard in court
last week that Saddam Hussein had personally signed
documents relating to the crackdown.
Defence lawyers have insisted the signatures are
forged. They have also contested the impartiality of
the handwriting experts, who they say are linked to
Iraq's interior ministry.
The new report also confirmed the signature of
former intelligence chief Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti,
Saddam Hussein's half-brother, but he disputed the
evidence again, saying it was an attempt to ruin the
reputations of the accused.
"I have my reservations about the accusations that
the signatures and handwriting is real," Reuters
news agency quoted him as saying.
He also used the film Catch Me If You Can, starring
Leonardo DiCaprio, as an example of how easy it
would be to forge signature, including his.
The Hollywood blockbuster tells the true story of a
con man who stole more than $2.5 million (£1.4m).
While the new reports confirmed the signatures of
Saddam and six co-defendants, they did not verify a
signature said to be from the seventh co-defendant,
Mizher Abdullah Rawed.
bbc co.uk
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