Saddam Hussein Murder Trial to Start Tomorrow

The murder trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is scheduled to begin tomorrow, Knight Ridder reported today (see GSN, July 26).

Hussein and his seven co-defendants, who will be tried simultaneously according to Iraqi law, are charged with the 1982 deaths of 143 people in the city of Dujail.

While a reading of the charges and a statement by the prosecution is expected, the trial is likely to recess quickly to give Hussein’s defense lawyer more time to study documents he received last month.

If convicted, the accused could be executed after the trial, despite other pending charges, according to Knight Ridder.

A Shiite-sponsored television channel, meanwhile, has been airing advertisements featuring footage of Kurdish children killed by chemical weapons allegedly used by the Hussein regime.

“The problem is that Saddam is feeling very comfortable, living in a safe place, eating good food and getting good sleep,” said Hamadi Khalif, a former Ministry of Housing employee. “We are not.  All we want is to see Saddam executed” (Nancy Youssef, Knight Ridder/Yahoo!News, Oct. 18).

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