Saddam lawyers stage walkout in protest over replacement judge

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.

The deposed leader also protested and was ordered to leave the courtroom.

Defence lawyers questioned the impartiality of the trial when the session began under Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa in place of Abdullah al-Amiri, who was removed after he was accused of being too soft on the former Iraqi leader.

Judge al-Amiri told Saddam last week in court that “you were not a dictator”, and an aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the comments were one reason for his replacement.

“The head of the court is requested to run and control the session, and he is not allowed to violate judicial regulations,” Hussein al-Duri told Al-Arabiya television. “It is not allowed for the judge to express his opinion.”

Saddam faces a possible death penalty if convicted on genocide charges over a military offensive against Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s.

Judge al-Khalifa said replacing the chief judge was an “administrative matter” and that the court would appoint new counsel. Saddam said he wanted his lawyers to stay and protested against court-appointed counsel.

“This is our personal right,” Saddam shouted as he pointed his finger at the judge and pounded his fist on the podium. “You must deal with us as the law dictates.”

The judge asked him to stop talking but Saddam refused, prompting him to order the former president out of the courtroom. A fiery exchange ensued.

The deposed leader told the judge: “Your father was in the security [forces] and he went on working as a sergeant in the security until the fall of Baghdad” — a reference to the US-led war that toppled Saddam.

“I challenge you in front of the public if this is the case” Judge al-Khalifa shouted.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.