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Iraq trial resumes without Saddam Iraq court drops Saddam's charges
(30 minutes later)
The genocide trial of six former Iraqi officials has resumed in Baghdad without their co-defendant Saddam Hussein, who was hanged on 30 December. The Iraqi High Tribunal has dropped all charges against Saddam Hussein, who was hanged on 30 December, as the genocide trial of his co-defendants resumed.
Saddam Hussein and the others were charged with crimes against humanity over a campaign against Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s that left 100,000 dead. Saddam Hussein and six others were charged with crimes against humanity over a campaign against Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s that left 100,000 dead.
Saddam Hussein was hanged after an earlier trial over the killing of 148 Shias in the town of Dujail.Saddam Hussein was hanged after an earlier trial over the killing of 148 Shias in the town of Dujail.
The court has dropped all charges against the late former Iraqi leader. The former Iraqi leader and the others denied all the charges against them.
The six remaining defendants, including Saddam Hussein's cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, deny charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Among the six remaining defendants is Saddam Hussein's cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majid, sometimes known as "Chemical Ali" for his alleged use of chemical weapons against Iraqi Kurds.
The defence argues the campaign was a legitimate operation to quell a rebellion after some Kurds sided with the enemy during the Iran-Iraq war. The defence argues the campaign - codenamed al-Anfal, or "the spoils of war" - was a legitimate operation to quell a rebellion after some Kurds sided with the enemy during the Iran-Iraq war.
Executions 'this week'
The trial had been in recess since 21 December.The trial had been in recess since 21 December.
Its resumption will throw the spotlight back on the Iraqi judicial system which has come under international criticism for the handling of Saddam Hussein's execution.Its resumption will throw the spotlight back on the Iraqi judicial system which has come under international criticism for the handling of Saddam Hussein's execution.
The former leader was taunted at the gallows and illicit images of his execution later appeared on the internet.The former leader was taunted at the gallows and illicit images of his execution later appeared on the internet.
The UN has called for a stay of execution for two others sentenced to death in the Dujail trial.The UN has called for a stay of execution for two others sentenced to death in the Dujail trial.
But the Iraqi government says the execution of Barzan al-Tikriti and Awad al-Bandar will take place this week.But the Iraqi government says the execution of Barzan al-Tikriti and Awad al-Bandar will take place this week.