http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=2112602005
Wed 19 Oct 2005 11:16am (UK) Saddam trial adjourned until Novem,ber 28th LIAM PATERSON The trial of Sadaam Hussein has been adjourned until the 28th of November after a first trial session which lasted about three hours. The former dictator of Iraq is being tried on charges of `crimes against humanity' with one particular case - the execution of 143 men in Dujail, a Shia village north of Baghdad being used by the prosecution as the single criminal act that may lead to a death sentence. Upon entering the court this morning, Sadaam and his seven co-defendants were led into a secure metal pen in the courtroom. From the first, Saddam refused to recognise the legality of the court, insisting that he remains the President of Iraq and that the court is not therefore legally able to try him. "Who are you? What does this court want?" Saddam challenged. "I don't answer this so-called court, with all due respect, and I reserve my constitutional right as the president of the country of Iraq." Shortly after he was asked to identify himself, leading to the following response: "You know me, you are an Iraqi and you know that I don't get tired." Eventually the judge told Saddam to sit down. Proceedings then continued, with the main defendant declaring himself not guilty of any charges read out by the judge and a prosecutor reading out the charges in detail. Although a verdict of guilty might seem guaranteed for the 68-year-old, there are many observers who feel that the trial has dubious legality. The defence argues that the Iraqi Governing Council, which created the trial statutes, was an unelected body that was acting under US control. Others question whether the trial constitutes a fair and independent tribunal, consisting as it does entirely of Iraqi judges. Another defence angle is that, like most heads of state, the former Iraqi leader has immunity from prosecution as a head of state, and retrospective legislation cannot remove such immunity. In the face of such objections, it seems likely that Sadaam's main counsel, Khalil Dulaimi, will insist on an immediate three-month adjournment of the trial. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back! http://us.click.yahoo.com/VpgUKB/pzNLAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
