BAGHDAD, Sept 25: The newly appointed judge in Saddam Hussein’s genocide trial threw the former Iraqi leader out of court on Monday, imposing his authority on a legal process marred by political controversy.

A Kurdish villager testified that women prisoners were often raped during the brutal 1987-1988 Anfal attacks against the Kurds that prosecutors say left 182,000 people dead.

Saddam Hussein was thrown out when he waved a sheet of yellow legal paper from the dock, declaring: “I have a request here that I don’t want to be in this cage any more.”

But Judge Mohammed al-Oreibi al-Khalifah fired back: “I am the presiding judge. I decide about your presence here. Get him out.” Bailiffs took Saddam out of the courtroom and the hearing at the Iraqi High Tribunal in Baghdad.

Saddam and six of his former colleagues face charges for spearheading the Anfal military campaign. They face the death penalty if found guilty.

Khalifah took over as the trial’s new chief judge last week after his predecessor Abdullah al-Ameri was accused of showing leniency and sacked by the Iraqi government.

“You need to show respect to the court and the case, and to those who don’t show it, I am sorry, but I have to apply the law,” Khalifah told another defendant, Sabir al-Duri, who was questioning the day’s first witness.

Saddam’s defence team was not in court. The former Iraqi president’s counsel boycotted the trial on Monday, accusing the government of interfering with the court proceedings.

Last week, the Iraqi government sacked Mr Ameri after he told Saddam in open court that he had not been a dictator. He was quickly replaced by his deputy, Khalifah.

“The defence team will not recognise the legitimacy of this court and does not accept the tailor-made decision taken by the occupying forces,” defence attorney Khalil al-Dulaimi said in Amman on Sunday.—AFP