Jan 29, 2006 - 2:34 AM EST
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. troops killed three suspected insurgents wearing Iraqi police uniforms Sunday in the northern city of Kirkuk, the military said.
The U.S. military also announced the death of an American soldier in roadside blast in Baghdad.
U.S. spokesman Maj. Jeff Allen said a gun battle broke out at a checkpoint in Kirkuk, 180 miles north of Baghdad, and three men wearing Iraqi police uniforms inside a car were shot dead.
American troops captured a fourth man in the car, but found no police identity documents on the men. Iraqi police Brig. Serhad Qadir said the four were suspected insurgents disguised as policemen. The U.S. military was investigating the situation.
The U.S. soldier was killed when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle Saturday evening in Baghdad, the military said Sunday. The military had previously reported the death of another soldier in a similar but separate attack Saturday in Baghdad.
At least 2,241 U.S. military personnel have died since the Iraq war began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.
Gunmen attacked an Iraqi police patrol Sunday near the prison in Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, killing one policeman and wounding another, Diyala police's Joint Coordination Center said. A civilian was also wounded.
A mortar round was fired toward Baqouba's police headquarters but exploded in a nearby residential area, wounding two civilians and two policemen, police said.
Associated Press
By HAMZA HENDAWI
Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 4:50 AM EST
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's trial quickly fell into chaos after its resumption Sunday, as the former Iraqi leader was removed after shouting "Down with the traitors!" and demanded to leave.
A co-defendant was dragged out and a defense lawyer was also ejected.
The new chief judge in the trial, Raouf Abdel-Rahman, had sought to show tough control over the court, but the session _ the first in a month _ began to fall apart quickly.
After the defense lawyer was removed, the entire defense team walked out as the judge shouted after them, "Any lawyer who walks out will not be allowed back into this courtroom."
Abdel-Rahman appointed four defense lawyers, but two other defendants, Taha Yassin Ramadan and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, said they did not agree with the appointments and demanded to leave. They were escorted out, and the proceedings resumed, with the court hearing an anonymous female prosecution witness.
The chaos began when Saddam's co-defendant Barzan Ibrahim stood and asked to address the court. Abdel-Rahman, who had already shouted at one defense lawyer for interrupting, told him to get to the point. Ibrahim called the court "the daughter of a whore."
At that point _ after about 15 minutes of transmission _ the delayed television feed showing the proceedings was cut off.
The judge ordered him to sit down, shouting, "One more word and I'm throwing you out." When Ibrahim refused to sit, two burly guards grabbed him by the arms and after some pushing and shoving, dragged him out of the court.
As they scuffled, Saddam stood and shouted, "Down with the traitors. Down with America!" Defense lawyers began shouting as well. "Is this a street demonstration, are you lawyers?" Abdel-Rahman barked at them.
The judge turned to defense lawyer, Salih al-Armouti, a Jordanian who recently joined the team, and said, "Can you do this in your own courts in your country?"
"My country gives me my rights," al-Arnouti replied.
Abdel-Rahman ordered guards to take al-Arnouti out of the court, saying, "You have incited your clients and we will start criminal proceedings against you." When al-Arnouti was removed, the rest of the defense team left in protest.
Saddam then stood and said he wanted to leave the court. "You do not leave, I allow you to leave when I want to," Abdel-Rahman said.
"I was the president for 35 years," Saddam replied.
"I am the judge and you the defendant," the judge said. Two guards pushed Saddam by his shoulders back into his chair, but then the judge ordered them to lead him out of the room.
Associated Press(AP)