Saturday, September 30, 2006
Relative of Saddam trial judge killed
Saddam Hussein trial
Gunmen killed a brother-in-law of the new judge trying Saddam Hussain and badly wounded the man's wife and son, in what the Iraqi government said on Friday was a direct attack on the court by Saddam's followers. It was at least the fourth killing closely connected to the US-sponsored court, following those of three defence lawyers, and will raise new questions about its ability to conduct fair trials in a nation on the verge of sectarian civil war.
"This was purposely and intentionally from groups which are connected to Saddam," spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh told Reuters, adding that he expected Ureybi nonetheless to continue presiding over the genocide trial which he took over last week. Day-long television coverage of the trial, in which Ureybi has ordered Saddam from court at each of the three sessions he has chaired so far, has made the judge a national celebrity.
Iraqi lawyers said the attack on his relatives would be grounds for the tribunal to question Ureybi's ability to be impartial and ask him to step down. But a source close to the court said he expected officials to confirm Ureybi in his post. He was appointed after the government sacked his predecessor for telling Saddam the former president was "not a dictator". In all, he is the fourth chief judge to try Saddam, since the first judge in an earlier trial quit nine months ago over what he called interference from the Shiite-led government.
"This was purposely and intentionally from groups which are connected to Saddam," spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh told Reuters, adding that he expected Ureybi nonetheless to continue presiding over the genocide trial which he took over last week. Day-long television coverage of the trial, in which Ureybi has ordered Saddam from court at each of the three sessions he has chaired so far, has made the judge a national celebrity.
Iraqi lawyers said the attack on his relatives would be grounds for the tribunal to question Ureybi's ability to be impartial and ask him to step down. But a source close to the court said he expected officials to confirm Ureybi in his post. He was appointed after the government sacked his predecessor for telling Saddam the former president was "not a dictator". In all, he is the fourth chief judge to try Saddam, since the first judge in an earlier trial quit nine months ago over what he called interference from the Shiite-led government.
Defence lawyers, who have boycotted the genocide trial since Ureybi took over, have accused Shiite militias of killing their three Sunni colleagues and on Thursday again branded the process a "farce". Tribunal judges, like leading Iraqi politicians, live under tight security. Militants have frequently targeted the relatives of prominent figures, seeking easier targets because the family members enjoy considerably less if any protection.
The trial for genocide against ethnic Kurds in 1988 is in recess until October 9. A verdict in the earlier trial, for crimes against humanity concerning Shiites, is due next month.
