Saddam Hussein trial adjourned until Tuesday

The trial of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and seven of his co-defendants has been adjourned to Tuesday, following Monday's session in a Baghdad court.

The adjournment was announced at the end of proceedings on Monday during which more witnesses took their stand in defense of Saddam Hussien and his co-accused.

Chief Judge Raouf Abdul-Rahman started the 29th session with hearing the testimonies of the defense witnesses on behalf of Awad al-Bandar, head of the Revolutionary Court who sentenced the 148 Shiites to death for alleged involvement in the assassination attempt.

"Mr. Al-Bandar always took the humanitarian aspect into consideration and he is a fair man who judge according to the law, " a lawyer who worked at Bandar's court testified.

"His court (Bandar's) allows the defendant to hire a lawyer and if the defendant was not able to hire one, the court would appoint a lawyer for him," the lawyer said behind a curtain.

The second defense witness, who was also anonymous, said that he was an army special forces member who was convicted in 1982 of insulting the former president Saddam Hussein and therefore took the stand before the then Bandar's Revolutionary Court.

"When I stood before al-Bandar, he asked me whether I have a lawyer," I said "no, because I am innocent," the witness said.

"Al-Bandar then ordered to appoint a lawyer for me to defend me and then I was found innocent," he said.

The third witness was Ghalib Mutar Latif, a retired policeman from Salahudin province, where Saddam Hussein comes from.

Latif insisted to greet Saddam, who was sitting in the courtroom.

"This is a court and not a Baath Party meeting," Rahman said.

But Latif shouted, "All your relatives and mine, particularly the Obaidat tribe, are sending their greetings to you, Mr. President."

The court then heard the testimony of eight defense witnesses, including Mohammed Zimam Abdul Razaq, a Baath Party regional command member who was the governor of Salahudin province, where Dujail locates, a year after the assassination attempt against Saddam in 1982.

The court also heard the testimony of Mahmoud Diab al-Ahmed, the former interior minister, and finally Barzan Abdul Ghafor Salman, the commander of Saddam special republican guards.

Saddam and his seven co-defendants are indicted for charges of crimes against humanity including the killing of 148 Shiite men in the northern Iraqi town of Dujail after Saddam survived an assassination attempt in 1982.

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

Source: Xinhua