Saddam Hussein’s genocide trial resumes

BAGHDAD – A Dutchman testified yesterday during Saddam Hussein’s genocide trial that he temporarily lost his eyesight as a result of an alleged chemical attack by Iraqi forces on his northern village nearly two decades ago.

“I stayed in a hospital for six months and during this period I wasn’t able to see at all,” said witness Karawan Abdellah, a former Kurdish guerrilla, wearing dark glasses and a Western-style navy blue suit as he sat in the witness stand. “Till now, I live in pain and suffering,” he said.”When I take off my glasses in front of my children, they tell me to wear them again because they get scared of the way my eyes look.”He then took off his glasses, saying “I want the cameras to show my eyes,” which looked slightly swollen, with greyish pupils.Abdellah said he sustained his eye injury in March 1988, when Iraqi warplanes bombed the positions of Kurdish guerrillas, known as peshmerga, in the Shanakhesiya village.He said he lost three friends in the attack.Following the initial air strike, Iraqi forces gassed inhabitants in the area.As he walked toward a nearby peshmerga headquarters, he said he saw “bodies of dead women, children and elderly men.They were killed by chemical weapons.”He said although he took an antidote, he felt body “pains,” his skin was irritated.”I also vomited and my eyes turned reddish gradually and became watery,” said the man, speaking slowly in Kurdish.Nampa-AP”Till now, I live in pain and suffering,” he said.”When I take off my glasses in front of my children, they tell me to wear them again because they get scared of the way my eyes look.”He then took off his glasses, saying “I want the cameras to show my eyes,” which looked slightly swollen, with greyish pupils.Abdellah said he sustained his eye injury in March 1988, when Iraqi warplanes bombed the positions of Kurdish guerrillas, known as peshmerga, in the Shanakhesiya village.He said he lost three friends in the attack.Following the initial air strike, Iraqi forces gassed inhabitants in the area.As he walked toward a nearby peshmerga headquarters, he said he saw “bodies of dead women, children and elderly men.They were killed by chemical weapons.”He said although he took an antidote, he felt body “pains,” his skin was irritated.”I also vomited and my eyes turned reddish gradually and became watery,” said the man, speaking slowly in Kurdish.Nampa-AP