Saddam trial judge could be replaced by deputy

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.

Judge Raid Juhi, who investigated the toppled Iraqi leader before his trial started, said the resignation of Rizgar Mohammed Amin had not yet been officially accepted, but his expected departure would be filled by the second-ranking judge trying the case, Saad al-Hamash.