Saddam co-defendant testifies in new session of trial

One of Saddam Hussein’s co-defendants testified today in a new session of the Baghdad trial of the former Iraqi leader and regime officials.

Mohammed Azawi Ali, a low-level official from Saddam’s former ruling Baath Party, stood before the chief judge for direct questioning on charges he helped a crackdown against residents of the Shiite town of Dujail in the 1980s.

Each of the eight defendants is due to testify. Three – also low-level Baath officials – had their turns yesterday.

It was not known when Saddam was due to appear, since it is up to chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman to decide the order.

If he goes last, his turn was likely to be in a later session.