Former Saddam aide dragged from court

Saddam Hussein’s former intelligence chief was manhandled by guards as they dragged him out of court today for arguing with the judge, fuelling defence protests that it is being treated unfairly in the trial of the ousted Iraqi leader and members of his regime.

An American lawyer on the team, Curtis Doebbler, said the defence is at a “serious disadvantage,” accusing the court of ignoring its requests, intimidating witnesses and rushing it while giving the prosecution all the time it needed to present its case.