Saddam trial begins, defence witness to testify

Baghdad, May 16: The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven others accused of crimes against humanity resumed in Baghdad today, with more defence witnesses due to testify.

The former Iraqi leader, who was toppled in the 2003 US-led invasion, was not present in the heavily-guarded courtroom as proceedings began around (1230 IST).

Chief Judge Raouf Abdul Rahman said witnesses for three other defendants in the case would take the stand during the session, all former local officials of Saddam's Baath party.

Saddam and his co-defendants are accused of killing and torturing Shi'ite villagers after a failed assassination bid against him in the town of Dujail in 1982.

''The court will listen to the witnesses of the three defendants present. There are a number of witnesses and it may take up this session or even another one,'' Rahman told the court.

Some of Saddam's lawyers complained that he and some other defendants had not been called for the session.

''We let you attend so you can respond to anything the witnesses may say that affects your clients,'' the judge replied.

Saddam and the others, including his half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti, a former intelligence chief, were formally charged with crimes against humanity yesterday after a three-week recess following the completion of the prosecution's case.

An angry Saddam refused to enter a plea. The judge dismissed his defence that he had immunity and was still president. He entered a formal ''not guilty'' plea on Saddam's behalf.

The seven other defendants pleaded not guilty or, like Saddam, were ruled to have so pleaded after contesting the US-backed court's legitimacy.

Saddam, the judge said yesterday, signed orders approving the executions in 1984 of 148 men from Dujail after a rapid court process, even though some of them had already died under torture and 32 were under 18 and so protected by Iraqi law.

The defendants face hanging if convicted, but only after appeals, likely to be held up by a dozen or so other trials for Saddam.

Five defence witnesses testified yesterday for a low-ranking Dujail Baathist accused of taking part in the killings.

Defence witnesses for Saddam are not expected to take the stand this week.

REUTERS