The trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants resumed in a court in the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad on Monday.

The eight defendants entered the courtroom one after another and Saddam was the last to come inside, according to TV pictures aired with a 30-minute delay.

At the beginning of the session, Chief Judge Rizgar Muhammed Amin ordered to remove handcuffs from the defendants.

Former US attorney general Ramsey Clark and former Qatari Justice Minister Najib al-Nuaimi were taking their places with the defense team of Saddam and his aides.

The trial resumed at around Monday midday after the Oct. 19 court announced a postponement of the trial by 40 days.

Saddam and his seven co-defendants are facing charges of crimes against humanity for the 1982 killing of over 140 Shiites in the Dujail village, north of Baghdad, after an attempt on Saddam's life.

If convicted, Saddam might face death penalty.

The first batch of prosecution witnesses are expected to appear in court and testify behind protective screens or with masks covering their faces for fear of possible attacks and revenges.

Just one day after the trial opened on Oct. 19, a lawyer for one of Saddam's codefendants was abducted by masked gunmen and was later found dead in a Baghdad district.

Another lawyer on Saddam's defense team was shot dead on Nov. 8.

Source: Xinhua