Sadam on Hunger Strike!

[razrif]

Saddam returns for court session
Saddam Hussein and co-defendants on Monday
Saddam Hussein and co-defendants have harangued the court
The trial of deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has resumed with all eight defendants present.

The former dictator, dressed in the dark suit he usually reserves for court appearances, shouted in praise of the Iraqi people before taking his seat.

It is not clear whether he and the other defendants are appearing against their will, as happened on Monday.

The final four prosecution witnesses in the trial over a massacre of 148 people in Dujail are expected to appear.

Saddam Hussein and his seven former aides also on trial deny all of the charges in relation to the 1982 massacre.

Underwear protest

Saddam's half-brother and co-defendant Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti attended court dressed in his long underwear for a second day to signal his rejection of the court.

The chief prosecutor, Jaafar al-Moussawi, told the BBC that the witnesses set to take the stand on Tuesday are also likely to be there against their will.

Judge Rahman
Judge Rahman ordered the defendants to return to court

He said it is unlikely the witnesses - all high-ranking former security officials - will be prepared to testify against their deposed chief.

The prosecution believes, however, that their deep knowledge of the former Iraqi leader's administration could help clearly implicate him in the deaths in Dujail, says the BBC's Jon Brain in Baghdad.

Monday saw two former aides to Saddam Hussein refusing to testify against him at his trial in Baghdad.

Former head of the presidential office Ahmed Khudayir and ex-intelligence chief Hassan al-Obeidi both said they had been brought against their will.

Saddam Hussein said he too was forced to attend and shouted: "Down with Bush".

Hardline judge

The defendants had vowed not to appear in court until the return of their lawyers, who are calling for the removal of Judge Rahman and boycotting the proceedings.

The new chief judge took over last month after the resignation of his predecessor Rizgar Amin and has adopted a more hardline approach to the defendants.

Saddam Hussein and some of his co-defendants failed to show up at the past few sessions.

Our correspondent says the prosecution was aware that the spectacle of an empty dock risked further undermining a trial that has repeatedly descended into farce.

[Amiraa]

Barr all the atrocities he caused etc...i was watchin him on Aljazeera yesterday and i feel so sorry for the poor guy...hes an old man for gods sake...let him have some of his dignity back...

Anyways...i no that whatever the outcome of the trial...Saddam wont be sentenced to death...the repercussions would be to great and haneous to allow it...they'd be stupid to...

[brim]

Originally Posted by Amiraa

Barr all the atrocities he caused etc...i was watchin him on Aljazeera yesterday and i feel so sorry for the poor guy...hes an old man for gods sake...let him have some of his dignity back...

Are you serious? You want to forgive him simply because he is aging? What would the people of , say, Halabja think of your argument? I can hear them now.... 'he gassed all of my family and friends but now that he's getting on a bit...'



The only loss of dignity Saddam is incurring is because of his own behaviour. Don't be fooled!

[Amiraa]

Originally Posted by brim

The only loss of dignity Saddam is incurring is because of his own behaviour. Don't be fooled!

I no what he did was wrong but...im jus simply sayin that i felt sorry for the old guy...thats all...

And anyway...theres millions of people that hate him in Iraq...but theres also more that love him...as you see everyday on the news...

[voltaires_priest]

Seems to me that most of the people there want the occupiers out - but they also hate Saddam.

Personally, I couldn't care less if the murdering old psycho gets upset; nor could those who've been his victims. It's important that the trial is fair though, and I've got serious concerns about that.



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