A defiant former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein refused to appear in court yesterday, delaying the resumption of his trial over a Shiite massacre a day after the deposed dictator shouted "Go to hell" at the judge.
The chaotic trial, marked by harrowing witness testimony of torture and angry tirades from Saddam, had been scheduled to resume with testimony from two more "complainants."
But proceedings were delayed, first by a closed-door meeting between Saddam's defense lawyers and judges to discuss "procedural matters," then by the refusal of the fallen dictator to enter the dock.
"There been a delay because one of the defendants is refusing to come up to the court. That defendant is now meeting with his attorneys," a court official said.
"If he doesn't come they come up they will make other arrangements," the official added, subsequently using the name Saddam.
Saddam, 68, and seven of his former henchmen are on trial for the massacre of 150 Shiite villagers after an attempt on his life in 1982.
They all pleaded not guilty at the opening of the trial but face the death penalty if convicted.
With only two witnesses to appear, yesterday had been billed as a short session. The trial was then expected to be adjourned for at least a few weeks as the country concentrates on legislative elections set for Dec. 15.
During the fourth session on Tuesday, witnesses testifying behind a beige screen with electronically distorted voices described being beaten, pistol whipped and given electric shocks by Iraqi intelligence agents.
But their testimony was repeatedly challenged by defense lawyers and Saddam himself, who took the opportunity to make an outburst against the US, Israel and the whole court.
Meanwhile, gunmen killed three police officers early yesterday when they burst into a hospital in the northern city of Kirkuk and freed a wounded man who had been arrested for plotting to kill a judge in Saddam's trial, police said.
Police Brigadier Sarhat Qadir said the attack on al-Jumhuriya Hospital in Kurkuk, 290km north of Baghdad, began at 6am and that six other officers were wounded.
Police had wounded the suspect when he was arrested with seven other Sunni Arabs on Nov. 26 for allegedly plotting to assassinate the investigating judge, Raed Juhi. The men were carrying a document from former top Saddam deputy Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri ordering them to kill Juhi, police said.
Al-Douri is the highest ranking member of the Saddam regime still at large and is believed to be the symbolic leader of Saddam loyalists still fighting US forces and the new government in Iraq.
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