Saddam Hussein today again insisted at his trial that he had been beaten by his American captors, calling Washington’s denials of abuse “lies”.

Saddam Hussein again grabbed centre stage at his mass murder trial with claims that Americans beat and “tortured” him and other defendants while in detention.

SADDAM HUSSEIN accused his American captors of torturing him, claiming at his trial yesterday that he had been beaten “everywhere on my body”.

Saddam Hussein accused his American captors of torturing him, claiming at his trial today that he had been beaten “everywhere on my body.” A Shiite witness testified that the former Iraqi leader’s agents had tortured people by ripping off their skin.

A noticeably calmer Saddam Hussein sat quietly in his defendant’s chair at the resumption of his trial today, two weeks after he called the court “unjust” and boycotted a session. When the judge refused to let him take a break to pray, the former leader closed his eyes and appeared to pray from his seat.