Saddam Hussein trial resumes

The trial of Saddam Hussein and fellow members of his regime resumed today, with the judge calling in each defendant individually to present his testimony.

The session began with defendant Mizhar Abdullah Ruwayyid, allegedly a low level official from Saddam’s former ruling Ba’ath Party, called before the judge. He and chief justice Raouf Abdel-Rahman began arguing.

Before the session, court officials said they intend to bring each defendant out to present his testimony. It was not clear whether they would be questioned by prosecution lawyers.

Saddam and his seven co-defendants are on trial for illegal imprisonment and torture and the executions of 148 Shiites in a crackdown launched after a 1982 assassination attempt against Saddam in the town of Dujail.

Today’s session was the first since March 1, when Saddam boldly acknowledged to the court that he was responsible for sending to trial the 148 Shiites who were eventually sentenced to death by Saddam’s Revolutionary Court.

But the former Iraqi leader insisted his actions were not a crime since the Shiites were suspected in the attempt on his life.