Saddam prosecutors show graphic video of dead

BAGHDAD, Dec 19 (Reuters) Prosecutors in Saddam Hussein's trial for genocide against ethnic Kurds showed graphic footage today of dead civilians, including infants, allegedly killed in chemical attacks on their villages.

Chief prosecutor Munqith al-Faroon also showed the court a memo from Saddam's secretary that praised a Dutch businessman who was convicted in December 2005 for supplying Baghdad with banned chemical weapons that were used in the offensive that prosecutors say killed more than 180,000 Kurds.

Faroon said the video footage was shot in several areas that were bombed with mustard gas.

One scene showed a man picking up the bodies of two very young children and placing them into a pickup truck already loaded with other bodies. The infants' bodies appeared to have severe chemical burns.

''I want you to view these dead children because these are the 'honourable battles' that Sultan Hashim speaks of,'' said Faroon in a reference to comments by one of Saddam's co- defendants yesterday who said the military campaign was to defend Iraq from its enemies.

In another scene, a dead child lay on his mother's corpse and another scene showed around 20 women weeping in mourning.

DUTCH LINK Faroon showed a memo signed by Saddam's secretary that praised Dutch businessman Frans van Anraat for his role in providing banned weapons.

He was granted Iraqi citizenship on personal orders by Saddam but fled Iraq after the dictator was toppled and in December 2005 was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of complicity in war crimes.

''He supplied our institutions ... with rare and banned chemical weapons ... via the Aqaba port in Jordan,'' read the memo, dating back to 1992 from the intelligence service urging the government to protect and give privileges to van Anraat.

Another document, classified ''top secret'' and signed by defendant Sabir al-Douri, was addressed to the military chief of staff. Prosecutors said it was a casualty toll from sarin and mustard gas attacks.

''There were 1,200 casualties of those who were killed and injured by the special weapon, in addition to 1,150 saboteurs who were either returned to the national side or were arrested,'' the document read.

Saddam said yesterday he would take responsibility ''with honour'' for any attacks on Iran using conventional or chemical weapons during the eight-year war but he took issue with charges he ordered attacks on Iraqis.

Lawyers for Saddam, who faces the charge of genocide, have argued that Anfal (Spoils of War) campaign was a legitimate military operation against Kurdish militias who sided with Iran in the 1980-1988 war. He has six co-defendants.

REUTERS SY PM2053