BAGHDAD, April 5: Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on Wednesday dismissed evidence linking him to the mass killing of Shia villagers as he launched a new tirade of abuse against his tumultuous trial. Meanwhile, chief judge Rauf Abdel Rahman expelled one of the defence lawyers after she made a string of acrimonious outbursts in just the latest illustration of tension between the defence and the judge.
The only defendant in the court, Saddam was dressed in a crisp black suit and appeared composed as Abdel Rahman reopened his trial on crimes against humanity after a three week recess.
Saddam, now also facing the threat of genocide charges in a separate case, was cross-examined for the first time over the alleged execution of more than 140 inhabitants of the Shia village of Dujail following an attempt on his life in 1982.
The Iraqi High Tribunal said it would charge Saddam and six others for genocide for their role in the killing of Kurds in the late 1980s during the Anfal campaign which left more than 100,000 dead.
During Wednesday’s session which ended after nearly six hours of verbal exchanges, Saddam dismissed the testimony of witnesses and also brushed aside evidence presented by the prosecution against him in the Dujail case.—AFP
