Shiite to preside over Saddam trial

BAGHDAD – Said al-Hammashi, a member of the five-judge Iraqi panel trying Saddam Hussein, will replace the chief judge who has resigned when the trial resumes, the main prosecutor in the case said yesterday.

“At the next hearing on January 24, Said al-Hammashi will be the chief judge of the trial as he is the oldest of the five judges,” said Jaafar al-Mussawi. Hammashi, a Shi’ite, will only hold the post on a temporary basis until the judges at the Iraqi High Tribunal elect a new permanent replacement for Rizkar Mohammed Amin he told AFP.”The election should happen in about one month,” Mussawi said.He was unable to say whether Amin would remain on the panel of judges at the trial of Saddam and seven former aides.Amin, a Kurd, tendered his resignation more than a week ago because of strong criticism of his way of running the court, an official close to him had said at the weekend.The tribunal itself said in a statement on Sunday that he resigned “for personal reasons, and not because of government pressure”.Amin and Hammashi are the only judges in the Saddam trial who have allowed themselves to be publicly identified in court.The other three remain anonymous for fear of reprisals for taking part in the case.Hammashi, born in 1952, has had several years of experience as a lawyer during Saddam’s regime after studying law at Baghdad University, according to Mussawi.Following the US-led invasion in March 2003, he was sent to Italy and Britain to learn more about international tribunals.- Nampa-AFPHammashi, a Shi’ite, will only hold the post on a temporary basis until the judges at the Iraqi High Tribunal elect a new permanent replacement for Rizkar Mohammed Amin he told AFP.”The election should happen in about one month,” Mussawi said.He was unable to say whether Amin would remain on the panel of judges at the trial of Saddam and seven former aides.Amin, a Kurd, tendered his resignation more than a week ago because of strong criticism of his way of running the court, an official close to him had said at the weekend.The tribunal itself said in a statement on Sunday that he resigned “for personal reasons, and not because of government pressure”.Amin and Hammashi are the only judges in the Saddam trial who have allowed themselves to be publicly identified in court.The other three remain anonymous for fear of reprisals for taking part in the case.Hammashi, born in 1952, has had several years of experience as a lawyer during Saddam’s regime after studying law at Baghdad University, according to Mussawi.Following the US-led invasion in March 2003, he was sent to Italy and Britain to learn more about international tribunals.- Nampa-AFP