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Saddam, co-defendants evicted amid high drama in the court

Atul Aneja

New Chief Judge acts tough, defence lawyer ordered out

DUBAI: Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was ordered out of the courtroom following an argument with the Chief Judge in a trial whose credibility has now been seriously brought into question.

In dramatic scenes witnessed in the courtroom, the new Chief Judge, Raouf Abdel-Rahman, first ordered the physical removal from the court of Barzan al-Tikriti, one of Mr. Hussein's co-accused, in the case revolving around the alleged massacre of 140 persons in the Shia town of Dujail. This was followed by a walkout of the entire defence team after the judge asked one of the lawyers to leave the court. Mr. Hussein was the next who was asked to leave, and this was followed by the exit of two other co-defendants including former Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan.

The court descended into chaos after the newly-appointed Chief Judge sought to establish tough control over the court proceedings. When Mr. Al-Tikriti asked permission to speak after the judge had completed reading his opening statement, he was told to finish quickly.

Counsel scolded

Mr. Abdel-Rahman had earlier scolded a defence lawyer for interruption. Mr. Al-Tikriti, a former intelligence chief under Mr. Hussein, then shouted an expletive at the court. The judge ordered him to sit down and warned him, "One more word and I'm throwing you out." When Mr. Al-Tikriti continued to shout, two guards grabbed him and dragged him out of the court.

As they scuffled, it was Mr. Hussein's turn to stand up and shout, "Down with the traitors. Down with America." Defence lawyers joined him and began shouting alongside. At this, Mr. Abdel-Rahman asked one of the defence lawyers, Salih al-Armouti, on whether he could behave in this manner in his home country Jordan. "My country gives me my rights," Mr. Al-Armouti retorted. The judge then ordered Mr. Al-Armouti out after declaring that he had incited his clients. "We will start criminal proceedings against you."

Piqued by the judge's demeanour, all the defence lawyers staged a walkout.

With the exit of the attorneys, Mr. Hussein said he too wanted to leave, prompting Mr. Abdel-Rahman to engage him in a heated argument. "You do not leave, I allow you to leave when I want to," the judge said. "I was the President for 35 years," Mr. Hussein said. "I am the judge and you are the defendant," the judge replied, at which time two guards pushed the former President back into his chair. The judge then ordered them to lead Mr. Hussein out of the room.

Mr. Hussein's departure resulted in the walkout of two of his co-defendants — the former Vice-President and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, who protested against the appointment of four new defence lawyers by the judge.

Analysts point out that the credibility of Mr. Hussein's trial has become increasingly questionable, especially after the former judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin resigned. Mr. Amin cited health grounds for his departure, but some politicians had accused him of being too soft on the defendants.

* * *

Car bomb attacks on six churches

BAGHDAD: Six car bombs, targeted at churches in Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk exploded within a short period on Sunday, killing at least three persons and wounding 14 persons, police and Interior Ministry officials said here. Four car bombs went off near four churches in Baghdad's Karada area, while two bombs went off near two churches in Kirkuk.

A roadside bomb also went off close to a church in central Baghdad, but there were no casualties in the incident.

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