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Saddam's genocide trial resumes Saddam 'ordered chemical attack'
(about 10 hours later)
Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has appeared in court for the resumption of his genocide trial. Prosecutors in the genocide trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein have presented evidence they say link him to the use of chemical arms against Kurds.
The deposed leader and six others are being tried in connection with a campaign against the Kurds in the 1980s in which more than 100,000 people died. As the trial resumed, the court was shown papers the prosecution argues contain orders from the ousted leader.
He was last in court on 6 December, having earlier threatened to boycott what he called his farcical trial. Saddam Hussein is being tried, along with six others, in connection with a campaign against Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s in which more than 100,000 died.
Saddam Hussein is appealing against a death sentence in a separate trial over his crackdown on a Shia village. He told the court the prosecution's allegations were an "insult".
On Monday, the prosecution submitted what it said was documentary evidence - a memo - allegedly linking Saddam Hussein to the use of chemical weapons against the Kurds in 1988. His previous court appearance was on 6 December, when he threatened to boycott what he called his farcical trial.
Prosecutors said the memo from Saddam Hussein's office to the Iraqi military intelligence ordered a strike with "special ammunition". 'Special ammunition'
Dujail appeal The documents shown on Monday were from Saddam Hussein's office to the military allegedly, and contained instructions to use chemical weapons against Kurds in northern Iraq in 1988, prosecutors said.
The papers refer to the use of "special ammunition" which is identified in the letters as mustard gas.
One of Saddam Hussein's co-defendants, Sabir al-Douri - Saddam's former military intelligence chief - said he doubted some of the papers were authentic.
Saddam's military intelligence chief said the documents were forgedHe argued that any "special weapons" were reserved for use against the Iranians, Reuters news agency said.
Saddam Hussein was silent though most of the proceedings but said he would take "responsibility with honour" for using chemical weapons against Iran in the war against Iran in the 1980s, Reuters said.
Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the campaign codenamed al-Anfal, or "the spoils of war".Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the campaign codenamed al-Anfal, or "the spoils of war".
The defence argues it was a legitimate operation to quell a rebellion after some Kurds sided with the enemy during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. Dujail appeal
The defence argues it was a legitimate operation to quell a rebellion after some Kurds sided with the enemy during the Iran-Iraq war.
Saddam Hussein and his cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, also face charges of genocide.Saddam Hussein and his cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, also face charges of genocide.
More than 70 witnesses have been heard in the Anfal trial. More than 70 witnesses have been heard in the Anfal trial and the court is now considering documentary evidence.
Earlier this month, Saddam Hussein's lawyers lodged an appeal against his death sentence for crimes against humanity in a separate case.Earlier this month, Saddam Hussein's lawyers lodged an appeal against his death sentence for crimes against humanity in a separate case.
Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death in November over the killing of 148 people in the mainly Shia town of Dujail in 1982.Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death in November over the killing of 148 people in the mainly Shia town of Dujail in 1982.
Judges also passed death sentences on Saddam's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bandar.Judges also passed death sentences on Saddam's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bandar.
A panel of nine judges will now review the verdict, which has been criticised by human rights groups as flawed.A panel of nine judges will now review the verdict, which has been criticised by human rights groups as flawed.