Saddam: 'I Am Not Afraid of Execution'

AP on Yahoo ^ | 12/5/05 | Hamza Hendawi - ap

[NormsRevenge]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein told the judge at his trial Monday that "I am not afraid of execution" during an unruly court session in which the first witness took the stand and testified that the former president's agents carried out random arrests, torture and killings.

The outburst was one of several by Saddam or his co-defendants at the trial that also saw a brief walkout by his defense lawyers.

At one point, Saddam appeared to threaten the judge, saying: "When the revolution of the heroic Iraq arrives, you will be held accountable."

Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin replied: "This is an insult to the court. We are searching for the truth."

Earlier, however, Saddam told the court he understood the pressures upon the judges and defended his actions. He and his seven co-defendants could be executed if convicted on the charges stemming from the deaths of more than 140 Shiites in 1982.

Before the trial adjourned until Wednesday, Saddam repeatedly interrupted testimony and appeared to try to rally Iraqis against the U.S. occupation.

"This game must not continue, if you want Saddam Hussein's neck, you can have it!" Saddam said. "I have exercised my constitutional prerogatives after I had been the target of an armed attack.

"I am not afraid of execution," said Saddam, who then addressed the judge, saying, "I realize there is pressure on you and I regret that I have to confront one of my sons. But I'm not doing it for myself. I'm doing it for Iraq. I'm not defending myself. But I am defending you."

When the first witness Ahmed Hassan Mohammed spoke, Saddam told him: "Do not interrupt me, son."

"If it's ever established that Saddam Hussein laid a hand on any Iraqi, then everything that witness said is correct," he said.

He also told the court that he "would like (the witness) to be examined by an independent medical institution."

Earlier, former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, who is helping represent Saddam, sought to address the court, touching off an argument that led to the walkout by the defense team.

Amin at first said only Saddam's chief lawyer, Khalil al-Dulaimi, could speak. Amin said the defense should submit its motion in writing and warned that if the defense walked out then the court would appoint replacement lawyers.

After the defense lawyers left, Saddam, shaking his right hand, told the judge: "You are imposing lawyers on us. They are imposed lawyers. The court is imposed by itself. We reject that."

Saddam and his half brother Barazan Ibrahim then chanted "Long live Iraq, long live the Arab state."

Ibrahim stood up and shouted: "Why don't you just execute us and get rid of all of this!"

When the judge explained that he was ruling in accordance with the law, Saddam replied: "This is a law made by America and does not reflect Iraqi sovereignty."

It was the third court session in the trial of Saddam and seven co-defendants — accused in the 1982 killings after an assassination attempt against the president in Dujail — where Saddam at times appeared to be in control of the court as much as the presiding judge.

After the lawyers spoke, Mohammed began his emotional but often rambling testimony. He said that after an assassination attempt on Saddam, security agencies took people of all ages from age 14 to over age 70. They were tortured for 70 days at the intelligence headquarters in Baghdad before being moved to Abu Ghraib prison where the abuse continued, he said.

"There were mass arrests. Women and men. Even if a child was 1-day-old they used to tell his parents, 'Bring him with you,"' Mohammed said. He said he was taken to a security center where "I saw bodies of people from Dujail."

"They were martyrs I knew," Mohammed said, giving the name of the nine whose bodies were there.

After the walkout and a 90-minute recess to resolve the issue, the court reconvened and Amin allowed Clark and ex-Qatari Justice Minister Najib al-Nueimi to speak on the questions of the legitimacy of the tribunal and safety of the lawyers.

"Reconciliation is essential," Clark told the court. "This trial can divide or heal. Unless it is seen as absolutely fair, and fair in fact, it will divide rather than reconcile Iraq."

At that point, the judge reminded Clark that he was to speak only about the security guarantees for the defense lawyers — two of whom have been assassinated since the trial began Oct. 19.

Clark then said all parties were entitled to protection, and the measures offered to protect the defense and their families were "absurd." Clark said that without such protection, the judicial system would collapse.

Al-Nueimi then spoke about the legitimacy issue, arguing that court is not independent and was in fact set up under the U.S.-led occupation rather than by a legal Iraqi government. He said the language of the statute was unchanged from that promulgated by the former top U.S. administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, and was therefore "illegitimate."

The first witness earlier exchanged insults with Saddam's half brother, telling him "you killed a 14-year-old boy."

"To hell," the half brother, Ibrahim, replied.

"You and your children go to hell," the witness replied.

The judge then asked them to avoid such exchanges.

As the testimony continued, Saddam's lawyers objected that someone in the visitors' gallery was making threatening gestures and should be removed. Ibrahim leapt to his feet, spat in the direction of the gallery, and shouted, "These are criminals."

The judge ordered the person removed from the gallery and questioned.

"There was random arrests in the streets, all the forces of the (Baath) party, and Thursday became `Judgment Day' and Dujail has become a battle front," the witness said, sometime fighting back tears. "Shootings started and nobody could leave or enter Dujail. At night, intelligence agents arrived headed by Barazan" Ibrahim.

Ibrahim interrupted him at one point, saying: "I am a patriot and I was the head of the intelligence service of Iraq."

At the start of Monday's session, Saddam walked into the court with a smile, carrying a copy of the Quran, Islam's holy book, and greeted everyone there.

Most of the defendants and several of the defense lawyers, including Clark, al-Dulaimi and al-Nueimi, stood up out of respect when Saddam walked in.

[NormsRevenge]

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, front center, and Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, back center, berate the court during their trial in Baghdad, Monday Dec. 5, 2005. All of Hussein's defense team walked out of the courtroom in protest after the judge denied a motion to immediately delay proceedings. The Iraqi High Tribunal convened Monday for a third session of the trial of Saddam and seven co-defendants, accused in the 1982 killing of more than 140 Shiites after an assassination attempt against the president in Dujail. (AP Photo/David Furst, Pool)

[steel_resolve]

Well, that works out well because the Iraqis are not afraid to execute you. Win win.

[Semper Paratus]

Gag him!

[dfwgator]

Make it a double-header with Tookie.

[NormsRevenge]

Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein (front) and his former intelligence chief Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti berate the court during their trial in Baghdad December 5, 2005. (David Furst/Pool/Reuters)

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Saddam Hussein, front center, and Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, back center, berate the court during their trial in Baghdad, Monday.(AP Photo/David Furst)

[Brett66]

Why does the judge allow this thug to do this? He needs to put some duct tape on his mouth if he refuses to shut up.

[Mikey_1962]

Hey TRibunal: Grow a pair. Tell them to sit down and shut up!

[NRA1995]

"I am not afraid of execution," said Saddam

Yeah, like he wasn't afraid of being captured by American troops....

[Old Grumpy]

"I am not afraid of execution"

Good. When it's time to lop off his head, perhaps he will show no fear, and will take it like a brave man.

[wideawake]

Whay are Hussein and his minions being allowed to disrupt testimony and interrupt court proceedings?

They should be sanctioned.

[F14 Pilot]

Then don't waste our time, hang yourself in your cell plz

[Reactionary]

It's nice that Saddam isn't afraid to be executed.

Happy little Saddam, meet Mr. Rope.

[rovenstinez]

Two things here are obvious. Allah is helping Ramsey Clark, and Saddam is innocent.

[NormsRevenge]

[ncountylee]

Martin Sheen (sp) duct tape?

[bert]

..... "I am not afraid of execution"....

" I had air piped into a rat hole because it was much cooler under the ground."

" I will meet my sons in hell."

[Semper Paratus]

I'm waiting for the candlelight vigils in Baghdad on the eve of his execution.

[Gordongekko909]

[conservative physics]

At this point I'd almost settle for life in prison if he would just tell us where he hid the WMD's so the liberals can be shown for the idiots they are.

[FormerACLUmember]

Forget Hussein, when do we get to execute Ramsey Clark?