Saddam Hussein trial resumes in Baghdad

The trial of the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and six of his aides on charges of genocide against Kurds in 1980s resumed in Baghdad on Monday.

Monday's session, the 19th of the trial, started with attendance of Saddam Hussein and his six aides along with the Saddam's chief lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi, who ends his month-long boycott to the trial.

On Sunday, Dulaimi warned of worsening violence in Iraq and chaos across the Mideast if Saddam is sentenced to death at his trial for a crackdown on a Shiite Muslim village in the 1980s.

"Any foolish American decision will further complicate things and will pose a serious threat to U.S. interests in the region," Dulaimi said in a letter recently sent to President of the United States George W. Bush.

Saddam's defense team and lawyers of his codefendants had boycotted the trial since Sept. 24 when then chief judge was dismissed, protesting interference by the Iraqi government.

Saddam and his codefendants face charge of genocide for their role in Anfal (Spoils of War) military campaign against Iraq's Kurds in the 1980s, which the chief prosecutor said left some 182, 000 people dead or missing.

All the main charges in Anfal case carry death penalty.

Saddam is also awaiting a possible death sentence verdict for a separate case involving killing of some 148 Shiites.

Source: Xinhua