I will stop attending hearings: Saddam to judge

Amman, Dec 6: Saddam Hussein wrote to the judge in the ethnicKurdish genocide trial to tell him he would no longer attend courtsessions to protest against being repeatedly silenced from speaking,his chief lawyer said today.

In the letter which was handed to a defence team lawyer who sawhim yesterday, the former Iraqi leader said he and his defence team hadbeen denied ''clarifying the truth'' over his role in a militarycampaign that killed up to 180,000 people.

Saddam, who is awaiting an appeal against a death sentence from aseparate case for the killing of Shi'ite villagers in the 1980s, wasfurious when the judge refused to give him an opportunity to refuteprosecution allegations he swindled 10 billion dollars of state assets.

''When I tried to clarify what happened by raising my hand threetimes I was not given a chance,'' Saddam wrote in the handwrittenletter released by his lawyers.

Chief defence counsel Khalil Dulaimi said Saddam's refusal toattend any future hearings reflected the former leader's firm belief hehad been denied the right to properly defend himself.

''So I tell you I cannot take these continued insults from you andothers ... and I ask you to relieve me from attending the sessions ofthis new farce and you can do whatever you want,'' Saddam said in theletter.

The Anfal trial opened in a Baghdad courtroom on August 21 and hasheard more than 70 witnesses in 27 hearings, most of whom havedescribed the campaign that ravaged Kurdistan.

Prosecutors are expected to present documents tomorrow linking Saddam to the killing of Kurds, court officials said.

Reuters