Prosecutors in the trial of ex-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein presented a document they claim was signed by Saddam and ordered the execution of 140 Shi'ites in the town of Dujail in 1984. The order was given shortly after an unsuccessful assassination attempt was made against the former Iraqi strongman.
The document was dated June 14, 1984 and indicated that 148 suspects had been rounded up in Dujail and had been sentenced to death by hanging. One of Saddam's co-defendants, Awad al-Bandar, signed that document.
Two days later, Saddam himself signed a document approving the executions according to chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi.
'None of the defendants were brought to court. Their statements were never recorded,' al-Moussawi explained to the court, saying the defendants were given an 'imaginary trial.'
Later documents dated March of 1985 indicated that 96 executions took place. A subsequent document indicated that 46 other people were 'liquidated during interrogations.' Another four people were executed even though their names did not appear on the list of those condemned to death.
The trial resumed Tuesday after an 18-day delay. For a chance, Saddam was calm and collected and did not engage in outbursts. He sat quietly in the court room with his lawyers. Nobody boycotted the proceedings.
The ex-Iraqi dictator also announced that he had ended the hunger strike he started February 12. Saddam claimed he ended the hunger strike over concerns for his health.
A motion by Saddam's lawyers that the chief prosecutor be removed was denied by the five-judge panel. Saddam's lawyers said he would appeal that decision and asked that proceedings be halted pending the appeal. That request was also denied.
Saddam's chief lawyer, Khaled al-Dulaimi, left the courtroom to prepare the appeal. The case proceeded without him.
