Sudanese foreign minister Lam Akol insisted today the Addis Ababa accord did not mean UN peacekeepers will join African Union troops in a joint force in Darfur.

Saddam Hussein today accused the chief judge in his genocide trial in Baghdad of violating the law by appointing defense attorneys against his wishes after the ex-president’s own lawyer walked out of the proceedings.

Saddam Hussein rebuked the chief judge of his genocide trial today, accusing the Iraq court of preventing him from defending himself.

Saddam Hussein’s trial on genocide charges against the Kurds resumed today after a 12-day break with the former Iraqi leader and his co-defendants in the courtroom, but their lawyers absent.

The brother-in-law of the new Iraqi judge presiding over Saddam Hussein’s genocide trial was killed and his nephew injured in a shooting today in Baghdad.

Saddam Hussein and one of his co-defendants were ejected from the courtroom in a tumultuous session in Baghdad today that saw the Iraqi defendants engage in a shouting match with the chief judge.

Saddam Hussein attended his genocide trial today, after the presiding Iraqi judge threw him out of court yesterday because he protested against the replacement of his lawyers who had boycotted the session.

The chief judge in Saddam Hussein’s genocide trial threw the ex-president out of the Baghdad courtroom today in a stormy session boycotted by the former ruler’s defence team.

SADDAM HUSSEIN’S lawyers walked out of his trial yesterday to protest against the replacement of the chief judge, who had been accused of favouring the defence.

SUDAN’S government agreed in a breakthrough at peace talks yesterday to allow more African Union troops enter the Darfur region to confine rebel fighters to their bases, a possible precursor to disarmament.