Sunday, November 26, 2006
Saddam's trial resumes Monday
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein’s genocide trial resumes on Monday with more Kurdish witnesses testifying, as a human rights watchdog said the deposed Iraqi leader’s previous trial was fundamentally flawed. Lawyers for Saddam and six co-defendants are expected to present their witness list in the 23rd hearing of a trial that began on August 21 and was temporarily adjourned on November 8.
The seven men are accused of responsibility for the deaths of 182,000 Kurds killed when government forces swept through Iraqi Kurdistan in 1988, burning and bombing thousands of villages. Saddam and his former aides insist it was a legitimate counter-insurgency operation against Kurdish separatists at a time of war with Iran. The accused, including Saddam’s cousin Ali Hassan Al Majid, known as “Chemical Ali”, face the death penalty if convicted. However, Saddam and Majid are the only ones facing a charge of genocide.
The seven men are accused of responsibility for the deaths of 182,000 Kurds killed when government forces swept through Iraqi Kurdistan in 1988, burning and bombing thousands of villages. Saddam and his former aides insist it was a legitimate counter-insurgency operation against Kurdish separatists at a time of war with Iran. The accused, including Saddam’s cousin Ali Hassan Al Majid, known as “Chemical Ali”, face the death penalty if convicted. However, Saddam and Majid are the only ones facing a charge of genocide.
Defence lawyers have boycotted the trial but are expected to present their list of witnesses Monday after chief judge Mohammed Al Oraibi Al Khalifah ordered them to do so in the previous session. Last week New York-based Human Rights Watch, which is tracking Saddam’s trials, described as fundamentally flawed the deposed dictator’s previous trial, in which he was sentenced to death.The Dujail verdicts are now with an appellate chamber, whose final word will come within an unspecified time. But if it upholds the trial court’s ruling, Iraqi law stipulates that Saddam must be executed within 30 days of that decision.
