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Saddam defence process ends

Atul Aneja

Defence is being "rushed" to conclude arguments, says lawyer

DUBAI: The chief judge of the court trying the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, declared that Tuesday was the last day for the defence team to produce all its witnesses, signalling an intent to wind up the controversial trial soon.

"I want to tell the defence attorneys that we are not going to listen to their endless rhetoric," said Judge Rauf Abdel Rahman. "The session is to present their witnesses. They have to choose one of the options — either rhetoric or witnesses."

Once the testimony of witnesses is concluded the defence and prosecution will deliver their closing statements. The judges will then adjourn to deliberate over the verdict.

Crimes against humanity

Mr. Hussein and his co-defendants have been charged for crimes against humanity following the deaths of 148 Shias in the village of Dujail. Their killings were allegedly ordered after a failed assassination attempt on Mr. Hussein's life in 1982. If convicted, the accused could face the death penalty by hanging.

The defence team has protested against the handling of the case. American attorney Curtis Doebbler said on Monday that the defence was "at a serious disadvantage. We want to work for justice, but that can only happen by having a fair trial and, under the current circumstances, that doesn't seem possible," he said.

Alleging discrimination, he stressed that whereas the prosecution got more than five months to present its case, the defence was being "rushed" to conclude its arguments within weeks. "Our witnesses have been intimidated by the court and have been assaulted," he said.

Last month, three witnesses testified that some of the alleged victims in Dujail were still alive, prompting the defence to question the prosecution's case.

On Tuesday, the defence produced three more witnesses, including Mr. Hussein's former bodyguards.

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