The resumption of Saddam Hussein’s mass murder trial was delayed for several hours today, apparently as the sides wrangled over a last-minute shake-up in the court in which a new chief judge was appointed.

Saddam Hussein’s trial was to resume today, a day after court officials named a new chief judge and ousted another jurist off the five-member panel trying the former Iraqi leader.

A new judge will take charge temporarily of the tribunal trying Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants in the 1982 massacre of more than 140 Shiites, an Iraqi official said Monday.

The No. 2 judge in the Saddam Hussein trial should not replace the resigning chief judge because of claims he belonged to the once-ruling Baath Party, according to the head of the body working to rid Baathists from Iraqi institutions.

Kidnapped American reporter Jill Carroll appeared in a silent 20-second video aired in Iraq yesterday by Al-Jazeera television, which said her abductors gave the US 72 hours to free female prisoners or she would be killed.

A SHI’ITE lawyer is expected to take charge of Saddam Hussein’s trial for the 1982 massacre of over 140 Shiites, a court official said yesterday.

The chief judge who resigned from handling the Saddam Hussein trial is expected to be replaced by his deputy, the top Iraqi investigator in the case said today.

THE chief judge in the trial of Saddam Hussein has asked to resign.

The chief judge in the Saddam Hussein trial has submitted his resignation, a court official said today.

THE trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants was adjourned yesterday until December 21 after a truncated session which the ousted president refused to attend.

The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants was adjourned today until December 21 after a truncated session which the ousted president refused to attend.

The Saddam Hussein trial resumed in Baghdad today after a lengthy delay but without the ex-president, who had declared that he would not take part in an “unjust” court.

Saddam Hussein’s trial was delayed today after the ousted president refused to attend the session, court officials said.

Waving a finger and pounding his desk, Saddam Hussein told the judges in his trial to “go to hell” and vowed not to return to court today.

A WOMAN testified yesterday from behind a screen that she was stripped and tortured with beatings and electric shocks by Saddam Hussein’s agents in the trial of the former president and seven lieutenants.

A woman testified today from behind a screen, her voice disguised but her weeping still apparent, that she was assaulted and tortured with beatings and electric shocks by Saddam Hussein’s agents.

A woman whose identity will be kept secret was to be a witness in the trial of Saddam Hussein as the fourth session of the trial resumed today in Baghdad’s heavily guarded Green Zone.

SADDAM Hussein warned the judge in his trial yesterday that he could be held accountable for his actions during the proceedings.

Saddam Hussein warned the judge in his trial today that he could be held accountable for his actions during the proceedings.

Saddam Hussein’s defence team walked out of the court in Baghdad today after the chief trial judge refused to allow former Attorney General Ramsey Clark to challenge the tribunal’s legitimacy in an address to the session.

The trial of Saddam Hussein resumes today – after Iraqi authorities said they had foiled an insurgent plot to fire rockets at the courtroom.

One of the five judges in the Saddam Hussein trial has stepped down after learning that one of the defendants may have been involved in the execution of his brother, a court official said today.

A combative Saddam Hussein lashed out today over his treatment by US guards and demanded that the chief judge stand up to American “occupiers and invaders” as his trial for crimes against humanity resumed in a heavily guarded Baghdad court.

The chief judge in the Saddam Hussein trial today adjourned the session until next Monday, December 5, to allow time to find replacements for two defence lawyers who were murdered and another who fled the country after he was wounded.

Saddam Hussein today appeared in a special Green Zone courtroom for resumption of his trial as the sound of mortar fire echoed through the centre of the Iraqi capital.

Saddam Hussein and others assembled today in a special Green Zone courtroom for resumption of his trial as the sound of mortar fire echoed through the centre of the Iraqi capital.

Efforts are continuing today to locate an Irish journalist kidnapped in Baghdad.

A DEFIANT Saddam Hussein pleaded innocent to charges of murder and torture when his long-awaited trial began yesterday with the one-time dictator arguing about the legitimacy of the court and scuffling with guards.

Saddam Hussein pleaded not guilty to charges including pre-meditated murder and torture as he argued with the judges today, challenging the legitimacy of the court as his first trial opened in the former headquarters of his Baath Party.

Saddam Hussein today declared himself not guilty of alleged crimes against fellow Iraqis, turning immediately argumentative and challenging the legitimacy of the court as he appeared before a five-judge tribunal in the former headquarters of his Baath Party two years after his capture.

Saddam Hussein went on trial today for alleged crimes against fellow Iraqis, turning immediately argumentative as he appeared in a tightly secured courtroom in the former headquarters of his Baath Party two years after his capture.