Posted on 07/26/2006 7:24:23 AM PDT by Republicain
BAGHDAD (AFP) - Deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was forced to attend his trial on charges of crimes against humanity and declared that if convicted he would rather be shot than hanged.
Appearing vigorous on the 18th day of a hunger strike Wednesday, Saddam was made to appear and hear a court-appointed defence lawyer make the final arguments on his behalf, as his defence team are boycotting the hearings.
"Remember that Saddam was a soldier and that therefore, if he is condemned to death, he should be shot and not hanged," Saddam declared, speaking of himself in the third person in the course of one of his numerous outbursts.
Judge Rauf Abdel Rahman replied simply that the Iraqi High Tribunal had not yet delivered its verdict.
Following the adjournment of the trial until Thursday, US officials close to the court reported that Saddam ended his hunger strike with a meal of beef, rice and fruit.
"I was brought here by force by the Americans, but I did not resist them because I have too much self-respect," he said, urging the court to excuse him, and adding that he had been brought directly from hospital.
"I refuse the lawyers that have been assigned to me, they will be considered enemies by the people," he declared. Saddam's defence team is boycotting the trial and the court has named replacement counsel to represent him.
Abdel Rahman refused his request, and insisted the 68-year-old defendant remain to hear the defence case prepared on his behalf.
Saddam and seven former aides face charges of crimes against humanity relating to a crackdown on the Shiite town of Dujail following an assassination attempt on Saddam in 1982. They face the death penalty if convicted.
The ousted president appeared in his trademark grey business suit and called for Iraqis to resist occupying US forces.
"I call for the invaders to be hunted down and I call for a national truce, brotherhood and tolerance between Iraqis," he said, earning a sharp rebuke from the judge.
"Sixty Iraqis die every day, only two are killed by the Americans," admonished the judge, in one of several irritated exchanges between the two figures who have dominated the trial.
"A thousand people like you don't even scare my little finger," roared Saddam.
"I am not a terrorist trying to frighten you," countered the judge.
Saddam also objected to being brought to the trial during his hunger strike, which started following his evening meal on July 7.
"Three days ago I was taken to hospital and today I was brought here forcibly from the hospital. I was fed intravenously and by a nasal drip," he said.
Lieutenant Colonel Keir-Kevin Curry, spokesman of US detainee operations said Saddam "voluntarily received nutrition through a feeding tube," but would not specify whether the tube was in his nose or mouth.
Saddam also charged that the court-appointed defence lawyers were reading from briefs prepared by "American and Canadian spies".
The prosecutors at the Iraqi High Tribunal are advised by foreign experts, but the US-led coalition denies that it interferes with the legal process.
One of Saddam's defence lawyers who lived in Baghdad was assassinated in June, while two other defence lawyers were killed soon after the trial began last October 19. No one has been arrested or prosecuted for the killings.
The name of the court-appointed defence lawyer was not revealed for security reasons, and in televised coverage his face was hidden and voice electronically disguised.
The Dujail case is likely to be the first in a series of prosecutions which Saddam and his former aides will face relating to various alleged atrocities carried out during his 24-year reign.
Sorry, Saddam, that's not your choice to make.
Saddam, I bet your victims would rather have been administered lethal injections than being put through plastic shredders. Like we care what his opinion is on that or any other matter?
I'll be bummed if he kicks the bucket before they hang him.
Just hang him.
Well then, the noose it is.
" . . . if convicted he would rather be shot than hanged."
I think a wood chipper would be most appropriate for him. The thought of him being shot wouldn't inspire enough fear in him.
Either way, I volunteer for duty.
Although, truth be known, it will probably take a lottery to get the job done properly.
In all honesty, I hope he dies... very slowly... and very painfully. I hope someone can come up with a way that is slower and more painful than what he put his victims through.
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