Saddam trial resumes, defence to take the stand
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-05-22 16:42
The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven others accused of
crimes against humanity resumed in Baghdad on Monday, with defence witnesses for
some of the more senior defendants expected to take the stand.
The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven
co-defendants over the massacre of Shiite villagers resumed with the
ejection of one of Saddam's female defense attorneys. Picture shows Saddam
during a trial session last week. [AFP] |
Saddam, accused over the killings of 148 people from the Shi'ite
town of Dujail after a failed assassination bid against him in 1982, was present
in the heavily-guarded courtroom as proceedings got under way at around 11
a.m.
Last week, the court heard witnesses for four former local officials of
Saddam's once powerful Baath Party, accused of taking party in bloody reprisals
that followed the assassination attempt.
This week, testimony will start on behalf of Baathist judge Awad al-Bandar,
former vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan, Saddam's half-brother Barzan
al-Tikriti and Saddam himself.
|
