Saddam refuses to attend his trial

* LUKE BAKER BAGHDAD – Saddam Hussein refused to attend his trial for crimes against humanity yesterday, throwing the sometimes chaotic proceedings into further confusion.

Defence lawyers spent the morning in discussions with judges and the 68-year-old ousted dictator about what to do next, a source in the heavily fortified Baghdad courthouse said. At the end of Tuesday’s hearing, Saddam told the judge to “Go to hell”, saying he would not attend an “illegal” trial.He has repeatedly said the trial is a US-staged sham and has berated the presiding judge and chief prosecutor.Court officials say that in principle the trial, which began on October 19, can go ahead without the defendants present, but the court source said the chief judge was keen for Saddam to appear.A week before Iraqis vote for their first, full-term parliament since US forces overthrew Saddam in 2003, the government led by his Shi’ite Islamist enemies has been keen to show their long-time tormentor is facing Iraqi justice.Officials summoned reporters to the gallery before 2pm, anticipating the day’s proceedings would finally start.But a curtain screening the gallery from the courtroom remained shut and journalists were soon escorted back out.On Tuesday, Saddam had also complained that he had not been allowed to shower or change his shirt and underwear for days, and asked the judge if he was trying to exhaust the defendants.Wednesday’s hearing was due to be the fifth session in the trial of Saddam and seven co-defendants accused of crimes against humanity stemming from the killing of 148 people in Dujail after a 1982 attempt to assassinate the former president in the Shi’ite Muslim village north of Baghdad.On Tuesday, the court heard five witnesses who said they were jailed after the killings.All spoke from behind a curtain and through a voice modifier out of fear for their lives.The court source said the trial judge was communicating with Saddam’s lawyers through clerks.The lawyers were in direct contact with Saddam, whose whereabouts have been kept secret amid tight security at the fortified Baghdad courtroom.The trial has rekindled painful memories for many Iraqis just ahead of the parliamentary election.- Nampa-ReutersAt the end of Tuesday’s hearing, Saddam told the judge to “Go to hell”, saying he would not attend an “illegal” trial.He has repeatedly said the trial is a US-staged sham and has berated the presiding judge and chief prosecutor.Court officials say that in principle the trial, which began on October 19, can go ahead without the defendants present, but the court source said the chief judge was keen for Saddam to appear.A week before Iraqis vote for their first, full-term parliament since US forces overthrew Saddam in 2003, the government led by his Shi’ite Islamist enemies has been keen to show their long-time tormentor is facing Iraqi justice.Officials summoned reporters to the gallery before 2pm, anticipating the day’s proceedings would finally start.But a curtain screening the gallery from the courtroom remained shut and journalists were soon escorted back out.On Tuesday, Saddam had also complained that he had not been allowed to shower or change his shirt and underwear for days, and asked the judge if he was trying to exhaust the defendants.Wednesday’s hearing was due to be the fifth session in the trial of Saddam and seven co-defendants accused of crimes against humanity stemming from the killing of 148 people in Dujail after a 1982 attempt to assassinate the former president in the Shi’ite Muslim village north of Baghdad.On Tuesday, the court heard five witnesses who said they were jailed after the killings.All spoke from behind a curtain and through a voice modifier out of fear for their lives.The court source said the trial judge was communicating with Saddam’s lawyers through clerks.The lawyers were in direct contact with Saddam, whose whereabouts have been kept secret amid tight security at the fortified Baghdad courtroom.The trial has rekindled painful memories for many Iraqis just ahead of the parliamentary election.- Nampa-Reuters