Saddam trial judge ejects Ramsey Clark

BAGHDAD, Nov 5 (Reuters) The judge presiding over the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven others on charges of crimes against humanity ejected former US attorney general Ramsey Clark from the court today for insulting the tribunal.

Clark, who heads an international team of lawyers involved in the defence, was ejected at the start of a hearing at which Saddam and two aides were convicted and sentenced to death.

The judge, Raouf Abdul Rahman, ejected Clark because he had sent a memo to Abdul Rahman including the accusation that the tribunal was making ''a mockery of justice''.

The judge told him in Arabic: ''No, you are the mockery ... get him out, out.'' Abdul Rahman then shouted in English: ''Out! Out!'' ''You come from America and ridicule the Iraqi people,'' he said.

Clark had earlier said the trial was politically influenced, and that if Saddam were sentenced to death, it would be ''victors' justice''.

REUTERS SP PM1604