Saddam Hussein Removed From Court Room 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)
ABC Anchor Bob Woodruff Hurt in Iraq
News anchor Bob Woodruff poses for a photograph in ABC's 'World News Tonight' studio in this Monday, Dec. 5, 2005 file photo, in New York. Woodruff and a cameraman were seriously injured Sunday, Jan. 29 in an explosion while reporting from Iraq, the network said Sunday. Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt were hit by an improvised explosive device near Taji, Iraq. They were embedded with the 4th Infantry Division and traveling with an Iraqi mechanized vehicle. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, FILE)
January 29, 2006 - ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff has apparently suffered head injuries and is undergoing surgery after an explosion while he was doing some reporting from Iraq.
The reports of Woodruff's injuries first came during ABC's Sunday edition of Good Morning America.
Woodruff was apparently taping a report with cameraman Doug Vogt about the Iraqi military from inside one of their mechanized military vehicles near the town of Taji. They were embedded with the 4th Infantry Division, traveling with an Iraqi Army unit in an Iraqi mechanized vehicle. It encountered an improvised explosive device.
Some small arms fire followed, according to reports on Good Morning America.
Woodruff and Vogt both suffered head injuries and are being treated. They are listed in serious condition after being flown to the Balad Air Base, which is about a 15 minute flight.
Officials have told ABC News that Woodruff and Vogt were wearing body armor, ballistic glasses and helmets in an effort to protect themselves.