Saddam Hussein's genocide trial resumes

Saddam Hussein’s trial on genocide charges against the Kurds resumed today after a 12-day break with the former Iraqi leader and his co-defendants in the courtroom, but their lawyers absent.

Chief Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa had declared a recess in the trial after a stormy session on September 26 during which Saddam and his six co-defendants were thrown out of court. The judge said at the time that he wanted to give the defendants time to convince their lawyers to end their boycott of the trial, or to confer with new ones.