The trial of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and his seven co-defendants over crime charges against humanity resumed in a Baghdad court on Wednesday.

Chief Judge Raouf Abdul-Rahman started the new session by addressing the defense team to adhere to the court's regulations without attacking the "court and the Iraqi people."

Rahman then ordered to hear the testimony of the former deputy prime minister and foreign minister Tareq Aziz about the case of Dujail.

Aziz, a close member of Saddam's inner circle, was the first defense witness for Saddam.

Aziz said that he had nothing to do with the events in Dujail in 1982, but was familiar with the context of the period that included assassination attempts against government officials including himself.

Wednesday's session resumed after a latest adjournment on Monday, when Saddam's defense lawyer Bushra Khalil was forced out of the court for quarrelling with Chief Judge Rahman.

Saddam and his seven co-defendants are facing crime charges against humanity including the killing of 148 Shiite men in the northern Iraqi town of Dujail after a failed assassination attempt against Saddam.

If convicted, Saddam and his aids might face death penalty.

Source: Xinhua