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Saddam in court after suspension Saddam attacks judge over dispute
(about 6 hours later)
Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has returned to court for his genocide trial, a day after the chief judge threw him out in a raucous session. Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has criticised the chief judge at his genocide trial in Baghdad, saying he has not been allowed to defend himself.
Saddam Hussein and six co-defendants sat quietly as chief judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa called on a Kurdish witness to take the stand. His comments came a day after the judge switched off the ex-leader's microphone and threw him out of court after he shouted a verse from the Koran.
It was the fourth time in recent weeks the former leader had been told to leave his Baghdad trial. Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa said his actions were needed to bring order to the court.
The seven are being tried over war crimes and genocide against the Kurds. The case was adjourned to next Tuesday, after hearing three Kurdish witnesses.
On Tuesday, the trial was interrupted when Saddam Hussein shouted a verse from the Koran, pointing at the judges: "Fight them and God will punish them." Saddam Hussein and six co-defendants are being tried for war crimes and genocide against the Kurds, charges to which they have pleaded not guilty.
Judge Khalifa cut off Saddam Hussein's microphone and ordered bailiffs to escort him out. Bailiff punched
At this point, his co-defendants stood up to protest, and one of them, Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, was also taken out of court and punched a bailiff who had tried to force him into his seat. During Wednesday's session, the former Iraqi president rebuked Judge Khalifa for silencing him the day before.
The trial continued in closed session. "When the accuser and prosecutor talk, the world listens. When the man called 'the accused' speaks, you switch off the microphone. Is this fair?" he asked Judge Khalifa.
"You won't lose anything by listening [to me]. This is the duty of a judge," he added.
The judge replied that he had cut the microphone on Tuesday to "bring order to the courtroom".
"Clearly you wanted to give a speech when you started reciting a verse from the holy book," Judge Khalifa said.
"You can talk if you want to defend yourself, but not to get into the political labyrinth."
Saddam Hussein interrupted the trial on Tuesday when he shouted a verse from the Koran while pointing at the judges. "Fight them and God will punish them," he said.
His co-defendants stood up to protest when the former leader was ordered out of the courtroom. One of them, Hussein Rashid al-Tikriti, was also removed from court after punching a bailiff who had tried to force him into his seat.
It was the fourth time in recent weeks that Saddam Hussein had been ordered out of his trial.