Saddam To Be Tried In Absentia
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Baghdad, Iraq (AHN) - An Iraqi court on Monday said the trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein will resume with or without the ex-dictator. Hussein was rushed to the hospital on Sunday after he was weakened, due to a hunger strike he began on July 9. He threatened to boycott the proceedings even though court officials say he is fit to attend the trial. Chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi said the 68-year-old former Iraqi dictator was being fed through a tube but the trial against him will proceed even without his attendance. Saddam, and seven of his co-defendants who are facing crimes against humanity, have been on a hunger strike for two weeks to protest the deaths of their lawyer. Al-Moussawi warned the lawyers of Hussein and his co-defendants their clients will be slapped with contempt if they fail to attend the next hearing. Raed Juhi, spokesman for the court said Hussein was in stable condition. "His health has not deteriorated and he will be in the dock when the court decides to hear him." Some reports have Hussein going on a hunger strike to protest the court proceedings and demand better security for his lawyers. Already, three members of the defense team have been murdered since the trail begun. Senior defense lawyer Khamis al-Obeidi was shot dead in June. The prosecution is calling for the death penalty against Hussein and his co-defen |
