The trial of Saddam resumed on Wednesday for the sixth day of hearings. 68 year-old Saddam and seven co-defendants are standing trial for crimes against humanity in relation to the killing of some 140 residents of the Iraqi town if Dujail in 1982.
Saddam reportedly ordered the killings in retaliation for an assassination attempt on his life him.
The former Iraqi leader also faces other charges, including ones related to the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, as well as the killing of political foes and repression of Shiite and Kurdish opponents, according to Reuters.
Two weeks ago, the trial was put on hold in the midst of dramatic courtroom scenes, including Saddam's refusal to attend the court session and his telling the judge to "go to hell." This time, Saddam agreed to attend the courtroom and alleged that he had been beaten "everywhere on my body" while in detention. "Yes, I have been beaten, everywhere on my body. The marks are still there," Saddam told the court, according to the AP. "And I'm not complaining about the Americans, because I can poke their eyes with my own hands."
Earlier, Saddam sat quietly as a witness testified that his regime killed and tortured people by administering electric shocks and ripping off their skin after pouring molten plastic on it. The witness, Ali Hassan Mohammed al-Haidari, who was 14 in 1982.
Al-Haidari, whose brother was the first witness at Saddam's trial, testified that seven of his brothers were executed by Saddam's regime and their bodies have not been found. "I cannot express all that suffering and pain we faced in the 70 days inside," he said. After a recess, another witness took the stand. Saddam's half brother, Ibrahim called al-Haidari "a dog" and his dead brothers "rotten dogs." Guards entered the court and threatened to take him out, but Ibrahim wagged his finger at them, saying he could only be ordered to leave by the judge, who allowed him to stay.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
