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Saddam trial adjourned

BAGHDAD: Saddam Hussein's genocide trial was adjourned until early next month after a contentious session on Tuesday marked by shouting matches and the former leader being once again ejected.

The adjournment until October 9 was called by the chief judge to allow defendants time to contact their lawyers or appoint new ones.

Verbal exchange in court

The adjournment came after the trial resumed without the ex-President and his six co-defendants present in the courtroom. They had been expelled earlier on Tuesday by the judge after a shouting match.

Mr. Husssein and another defendant were ejected after all seven defendants argued loudly with chief judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa. He first removed Mr. Hussein from the court, then his former Defence Minister, Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai. The outburst began when Mr. Hussein refused to remain silent after repeated requests to do so by the judge.

Mr. Hussein tried to make a statement, interrupting the prosecution's questioning of a witness. ``You are a defendant and I'm the judge,'' Mr. al-Khalifa said, telling Mr. Hussein to sit down. A defiant Mr. Hussein refused and continued speaking even though the judge shut off court microphones.

Mr. Hussein's six co-defendants then began a shouting match. ``Shut up, no one may speak ...'' Mr. al-Khalifa shouted, pointing his finger at the defendant.

``The court decided to eject Saddam Hussein from the courtroom,'' Mr. al-Khalifa added. Mr. Hussein left with a smile.

Meanwhile, a series of bomb explosions in and around Baghdad killed at least 21 persons and wounded dozens on Tuesday while police also found the bodies of 23 men scattered around the capital, officials said. — AP

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