Saddam refuses to appear at his trial

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein refused to attend his trial for crimes against humanity on Wednesday, delaying the often chaotic proceedings for hours before the presiding judge decided to press on with the televised hearing without him.

After only two and half hours in session, the presiding judge said the court would next sit on Dec. 21, six days after the Dec. 15 parliamentary elections. Two more witnesses, hidden behind a curtain, recounted tales of torture in prison in the 1980s.

Saddam’s co-defendants and his lawyers were present in the courtroom when Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin convened the session at 3 p.m., about four hours late.

Saddam’s place at the front of the penned-in dock was conspicuously empty. He said at the close of Tuesday’s hearing that he would not attend an “unfair” trial and complained of exhaustion and being denied a change of clothes.

Amin said the court would inform Saddam about or brief him on the proceedings that took place during his absence.

The judge then told defense lawyers the court would meet with them after the session to discuss security for the lawyers, which has become a major issue after two members of the defense team were killed.

The 68-year-old’s no-show is the most dramatic twist so far in a trial that has been plagued by delays, faulty equipment and rambling testimony since it opened on Oct. 19.

‘Saddam did not boycott’
Court official Raid Juhi told reporters after the session that Saddam attended a closed-door hearing that preceded the public session “and the court decided that he should be removed from the hearing on the basis of the law.”

“So Saddam did not boycott, but he was allowed to stay out of the hearing on the basis of a certain request,” Juhi said without explaining what it was. “He was present at the courtroom during the closed session. He presented something to the court and the court decided to excuse him.”

Juhi said Saddam would attend the Dec. 21 session.

“The court is trying to balance the rights of the defense with the rights of victims,” Juhi added.

Under Iraqi law, which forms the basis of the tribunal’s rules in an amalgam with other principles of international law, the trial can continue to its conclusion without Saddam but his absence will deprive millions of Iraqis the chance to see their former president in the dock.

Tale of abuse
During Wednesday’s session, an unidentified male witness, testifying behind a beige curtain to conceal his identity, said he was arrested after the assassination attempt and taken to Baath Party headquarters, where he found people “screaming because of the beatings.”

The witness said Saddam’s half brother and co-defendant, Barazan Ibrahim, was present.

“When my turn came, the investigator asked me my name and he turned to Barazan and asked him: ‘What we shall do with him?’ Barazan replied: ‘Take him. He might be useful.’ We were almost dead because of the beatings.”

But under questioning by the judge, the witness said he was blindfolded at the time and believed it was Ibrahim speaking because other prisoners told him so.

The witness said he was taken to Baghdad “in a closed, crowded van that had no windows.”

“When we arrived at the building they asked us to stand along the wall,” he said. “We were told to stand only on one foot, and we kept on this position for two hours before we were taken to cells with red walls. I was thirsty but the water was very hot.”

After a few days, the witness said, he was moved to “Hall 63,” where “we were kept handcuffed for five days with little food and very hot water. They used to take some persons and bring them back naked. The signs of torture were clear on their bodies.”

MORE FROM AMERICAS

Americas Section Front

Aide: Ousted Honduran leader going home Mexico sends 1,000 police to drug area Cartel’s revenge escalates Mexico drug war Honduran interim leader may step down Newsweek: Outrage over Honduras smacks of hypocrisy U.S. set to boost military role in Colombia 2 missing boys found in Bahamas Tropical Storm Dolores forms; Carlos weakens Americas Section Front   Add Americas headlines to your news reader: