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07/12/2005
Saddam Hussein defies court and stays away
Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has declined to appear in court today as the trial of senior figures of the Baath Party regime continued for a time but was then adjourned.
The head of the Baath Party has denounced the court on several occasions as "unjust" and complained about the conditions under which he is being held.
Saddam Hussein and seven former Baath Party aides are charged with crimes against humanity over the killing of almost 150 Shia Muslims in the Dujail in 1982.
All the accused, who face the death penalty, if convicted have denied the charges.
Today's hearing was delayed for several hours while there was legal argument over how the trial should proceed in the absence of Saddam Hussein.
Despite his boycott of the trial, under Iraqi law, the hearing can continue in his absence.
Saddam's lawyers had appealed to the court to have a longer break, but this request was denied by Judge Rizgar Amin.
Yesterday's proceedings were marked by violent outbursts from Saddam Hussein who denounced the court and declared that he would not be returning to the courtroom.
The 68-year-old's defiance of the court and now his boycott of the proceedings is the latest twist in a trial already plagued by delays.
Yesterday, telling the presiding judges that they could "go to hell", he complained that he was exhausted and had not had a change of clothes in three days.
The trial, which has attracted criticism from international observers over concerns about impartiality and witness protection, continued today with one empty chair.
The BBC reported that the son of one of the courtroom guards has been abducted from his Baghdad home earlier this week. It is not clear if the abduction is related to the trial of the Baath Party figures.
The trial has been adjourned until December 21.
(SP/KMcA)
The head of the Baath Party has denounced the court on several occasions as "unjust" and complained about the conditions under which he is being held.
Saddam Hussein and seven former Baath Party aides are charged with crimes against humanity over the killing of almost 150 Shia Muslims in the Dujail in 1982.
All the accused, who face the death penalty, if convicted have denied the charges.
Today's hearing was delayed for several hours while there was legal argument over how the trial should proceed in the absence of Saddam Hussein.
Despite his boycott of the trial, under Iraqi law, the hearing can continue in his absence.
Saddam's lawyers had appealed to the court to have a longer break, but this request was denied by Judge Rizgar Amin.
Yesterday's proceedings were marked by violent outbursts from Saddam Hussein who denounced the court and declared that he would not be returning to the courtroom.
The 68-year-old's defiance of the court and now his boycott of the proceedings is the latest twist in a trial already plagued by delays.
Yesterday, telling the presiding judges that they could "go to hell", he complained that he was exhausted and had not had a change of clothes in three days.
The trial, which has attracted criticism from international observers over concerns about impartiality and witness protection, continued today with one empty chair.
The BBC reported that the son of one of the courtroom guards has been abducted from his Baghdad home earlier this week. It is not clear if the abduction is related to the trial of the Baath Party figures.
The trial has been adjourned until December 21.
(SP/KMcA)
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Saddam and co-defendants on hunger strike
Saddam Hussein today told a Baghdad court that he and his seven co-defendants are on hunger strike. The deposed Iraqi leader who appeared in court dressed in his black suit, said that he was protesting at the conduct of the trial and had been on hunger strike for three days.
Saddam and co-defendants on hunger strike
Saddam Hussein today told a Baghdad court that he and his seven co-defendants are on hunger strike. The deposed Iraqi leader who appeared in court dressed in his black suit, said that he was protesting at the conduct of the trial and had been on hunger strike for three days.
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