Monday, 27 November 2006
A Baghdad court has resumed the trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and six co-defendants on charges of crimes against humanity in connection with a military campaign against ethnic Kurds in the late 1980s.
The proceedings resumed Monday, following a two-week break.
Saddam sat quietly as the chief judge called a prosecution witness to take the stand.
While defense lawyer's have been boycotting the trial for two months, at least two attorney's did attend Monday's court session. The defense is protesting the court's refusal to give them more preparation time as well as other rulings.
Saddam and his former commanders are accused of war crimes for their role in the military offensive against Iraqi Kurds, known as "Operation Anfal."
The prosecution says some 180,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the 1987-88 crackdown.
If convicted, Saddam and the co-defendants could be condemned to death.
The former Iraqi leader has already received the death penalty in another trial for his role in the massacre of 148 Shi'ite villagers in Dujail in 1982.
27.11.2006
_VOANews_
