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Iraqi Judge Bars Journalists From Saddam Trial
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=115CB2F:3919ACA Former Iraqi leader
called tribunal a "comedy" in opening statement The chief judge in the
trial of Saddam Hussein has barred journalists from the





Saddam Hussein argues with chief judge while testifying during his
trial in Baghdad, Wednesdaycourtroom, after a heated exchange with the
former Iraqi leader minutes after he began testifying.

Saddam took the stand Wednesday in Baghdad, and immediately called the
tribunal a "comedy." He then launched into an address that the judge
called a political speech and urged him to stop.

The defendant continued, insisting that he is still the president of
Iraq. But the judge reminded Saddam that he is now a defendant and no
longer the president. Then, the judge closed the proceedings to the
media.

Saddam's appearance comes two weeks after he admitted giving orders
that led to the killing of 148 Shi'ite males in the Iraqi village of
Dujail in 1982. He said the orders were legal, and that a judge had
found all of the executed guilty in a failed assassination attempt
against him.

Saddam and his seven co-defendants face death by hanging if found
guilty of the killings.

Earlier Wednesday, Saddam's half-brother, the former head of Iraq's
intelligence, denied any role in the killings. Barzan al-Tikriti said
he did not order any detentions and only visited the village twice.

In previous court sessions, prosecution witnesses have testified that
Barzan oversaw the arrest of suspects in a government crackdown on
villagers after the assassination attempt.

 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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