BAGHDAD, 16 May 2006 — Saddam Hussein angrily refused to enter a plea yesterday after hearing a full, formal list of charges of crimes against humanity read to him in court.
The judge dismissed his defense that he had immunity and was still president. He entered a formal “not guilty” plea on Saddam’s behalf after giving a 15-minute recitation of killings, torture and executions that followed an attempt on the Iraqi leader’s life in the Shiite town of Dujail in 1982.
Seven months into the trial and after a three-week recess following the completion of the prosecution case, chief judge Raouf Abdul Rahman read out to each of the eight defendants in turn the final charge sheet against them.
All pleaded not guilty or, like Saddam, were ruled to have so pleaded after contesting the US-backed court’s legitimacy.
Asked how he pleaded, Saddam, 69, who stood alone at first in the metal-railed dock, complained that he could not give a simple yes or no answer to the lengthy accusation. “This statement cannot influence me or shake a hair of my head,” he said, standing erect in a dark suit, holding the Qur’an. “I am president of Iraq by the will of the Iraqi people.”
“You were, but not now,” replied the judge.
Aside from that brief outburst, Saddam seemed relaxed. He entered the court smiling, first and alone. At the lunch break, he chatted amiably with the chief prosecutor.
The defense case began in the afternoon when five witnesses for one of the four local officials on trial were called. Saddam and his three senior aides were absent. Their witnesses are due to give evidence later. The trial resumes today.
The witnesses heard yesterday largely attested to the good character of Baath party member Ali Daei, a student at the time. He denies informing on neighbors who were arrested, and some killed. But, to the clear irritation of the judge, no one could clearly account for the defendant’s actions at the time.
All the accused face hanging if convicted, though only after appeals that will probably be held up by a dozen or so other trials for Saddam. The charge sheets against all eight consisted of largely similar accounts of the events of July 8, 1982 and subsequently, with modifications for the role of each man.
“I charge that you were the president of Iraq... and that you gave orders to security services and the military... to launch an organized attack with various types of weaponry, including helicopters and planes, to kill and then to torture hundreds of Dujailis, including children, and women and men and then to destroy houses and farms,” the judge told Saddam.
