Saddam Defense Lawyer Killed
Nji Che - All Headline News Staff Writer Baghdad, Iraq (AHN) - Iraqi officials say one of Saddam's main defense lawyers has been shot to dead. According to the statement, police found Khamis al-Obeidi's body in Sadr city several hours after he was kidnapped from his Baghdad residence on Wednesday. Saddam's lead defense lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said Mr. Obeidi was abducted from his home early Wednesday by men dressed in Iraqi police uniforms. The controversial trial resumed on Monday. The lawyers for the Dujail victims preferred to remain anonymous, saying they feared for their lives. The trial has now been marred by the slaying of three defense lawyers, the resignation of a judge and continuous threats on prosecutors from Saddam loyalists. Prosecuting lawyers said Saddam's half-brother and former intelligence chief tortured prisoners and sent people to die in the desert. They called on the U.S.-backed court to give the deposed leader death penalty. A lawyer for victims of a 1982 crackdown against Shi'ites said, "We demand the court inflict the utmost punishments and also demand the financial and moral compensation for our clients for the damage they received." The statement came as prosecutors began their closing remarks in the long running trial. Saddam, his half-brother and former intelligence chief Barzan al-Tikriti and the six other defendants will face death by hanging if found guilty. They are charged with the |
