Start of Saddam trial delayed - courtroom source
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The start of Saddam Hussein's troubled trial was delayed on Wednesday for "procedural issues", and a courtroom source said proceedings would kick off with a closed session.
Saddam's chief counsel, Khalil al-Dulaimi, said earlier the defence team would boycott all sessions until the new chief judge, Raouf Abdel Rahman, resigned. He said Abdel Rahman, a Kurd, was biased and the U.S.-sponsored court illegitimate.
The courtroom source, who declined to be identified, said the closed session, due to begin shortly, would last for about 30 minutes, after which the judge would open up the court. The reason for the closed session was not immediately clear, but the source said Abdel Rahman would explain.
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Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein chastises the court moments after his half brother, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, was forcibly removed from their trial held in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone in this January 29, 2006 file photo. Resumption of the trial is delayed until February 1. (REUTERS/David Furst/Pool) |
Saddam's trial collapsed into chaos moments after resuming on Sunday, when he and his defence team stormed out and guards dragged his half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti from the courtroom after he refused to keep quiet.
The trial has been marred by delays since getting under way last October. Two members of the defence team have been murdered, chief judge Rizgar Amin resigned complaining of political interference, and his original replacement was shifted aside after being accused of belonging to Saddam's Baath party.
Saddam and seven co-accused are charged with killing 148 men from the Shi'ite town of Dujail after a bid to assassinate him there in 1982.
Copyright © 2008 Reuters
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