BAGHDAD, Oct 19: The main reason the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven others facing charges of crimes against humanity has been adjourned was because many witnesses were too afraid to turn up, the judge trying the case said on Wednesday.

Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin said around 30 or 40 witnesses had not come to Baghdad for the trial, which took place in a heavily defended building inside Baghdad’s fortress-like Green Zone compound.

“The main reason is the witnesses did not show up,” Mr Amin said. “They were too scared to be public witnesses. We’re going to work on this issue for the next sessions.”

The witness box in the court, set up in Saddam’s former Baath party headquarters, is equipped with curtains to protect the identity of witnesses. Such was the terror Saddam instilled in many Iraqis for decades that many still go in fear of him.

Raad Jouhi also said: “Another reason was to re-inform witnesses so as to bring them to court.” —Reuters