Saddam officials in the dock

THREE of Saddam Hussein’s co-defendants testified for the first time yesterday, denying any role in the deaths of Shi’ites in the 1980s as the trial of the former Iraqi leader entered a new phase.

Saddam is expected to be the last defendant to testify in the trial and could take the stand as early as today.

Mizhar Abullah Ruwayyid, his father Abdullah Ruwayyid and Ali Daih Ali stood one by one to be directly questioned by the chief judge and prosecutors about the crackdown against the town of Dujail after a 1982 assassination attempt against Saddam.

After four hours of testimony, chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman adjourned the trial.

Saddam and seven former members of his regime are on trial for the deaths of 148 Shi’ites and the illegal imprisonment and torture of Dujail residents. They could face execution if convicted.