Saddam trial resumes, defence to take the stand

Baghdad, May 22 : The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven others accused of crimes against humanity resumed in Baghdad today, with defence witnesses for some of the more senior defendants expected to take the stand.

Saddam, accused over the killings of 148 people from the Shi'ite town of Dujail after a failed assassination bid against him in 1982, was present in the heavily-guarded courtroom as proceedings got under way at around 11 a.m. (12300 hrs IST).

Last week, the court heard witnesses for four former local officials of Saddam's once powerful Baath Party, accused of taking party in bloody reprisals that followed the assassination attempt.

This week, testimony will start on behalf of Baathist judge Awad al-Bandar, former vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan, Saddam's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Saddam himself.

Reuters