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BAGHDAD, January
8, --- Saddam Hussein's trial for the killing of
180,000 Kurds in the 1980s resumed Monday with the
late dictator's seat empty, nine
days after he went to the gallows. The court's first
order of business was to drop all charges against
Saddam.
Six co-defendants still face charges of war crimes
and crimes against humanity stemming from a military
campaign code-named Operation Anfal during the
1980-88 Iraq-Iran war.
Shortly after the court reconvened Monday, a bailiff
called out the names of the accused and the six men
walked silently into the courtroom one after
another.
Chief Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa said the
court decided to stop all legal action against the
former president, since "the death of defendant
Saddam was confirmed."
Saddam was sentenced to death for the killing of 148
Shiites and hanged on Dec. 30 in a chaotic execution
that has drawn global criticism for the
Shiite-dominated government. An illicit video from
inside the former leader's execution chamber showed
him being taunted on the gallows.
Saddam and cousin discussed
killing thousands: tapes
Saddam Hussein and his cousin "Chemical Ali"
discussed how chemical weapons would exterminate
thousands before unleashing them on Kurds in 1988,
according to tapes played on Monday in a trial of
former Iraqi officials.
"I will strike them with chemical weapons and kill
them all and damn anyone who is going to say
anything," a voice identified by prosecutors as
"Chemical Ali" Hassan al-Majeed is heard saying.
"Yes it's effective, especially on those who don't
wear a mask immediately, as we understand," a voice
identified as Saddam is heard saying on another
tape.
"Sir, does it exterminate thousands?" a voice asks
back.
"Yes, it exterminates thousands and forces them not
to eat or drink and they will have to evacuate their
homes without taking anything with them, until we
can finally purge them," the voice identified as
Saddam answers.
With Saddam's chair empty, Majeed and five other
Baath party officials were being tried for their
roles in the 1988 Anfal (Spoils of War) military
campaign in northern Kurdistan.
Prosecutors said 180,000 people were killed, many of
them gassed. Many Kurds regret the chief suspect can
no longer face justice for his role in the campaign
against them, but they hope others share his fate on
the gallows.
Saddam was hanged on December 30 after being
convicted in an earlier trial for his role in
killing 148 Shi'ites in the 1980s.
Majeed, who faces charges of genocide, is considered
the main enforcer of the Anfal campaign.
Judge Mohammed al-Ureybi, in his first order of
business, formally dropped charges of genocide and
crimes against humanity against Saddam. He cut off
the microphones when Majeed stood up and started to
read the Koran in tribute to his former chief.
"In virtue of the confirmation of the death of
defendant Saddam Hussein, the court decided to
finally stop legal procedures against defendant
Saddam Hussein according to the Iraqi Penal
Procedures Law," Ureybi told the court.
Looking tired and sporting an uncharacteristic white
stubble, Majeed refused to take his chair and
insisted on reading a line from the Koran as he
stood behind Saddam's empty chair.
"Make him sit down, make him sit down," Ureybi
ordered the bailiffs.
Saddam's hanging has turned him into a martyr in
much of the Arab world, overshadowing memories of
his often brutal rule.
Reuters
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