Saddam's lawyers say they will boycott next session

AMMAN - Saddam Hussein's lawyers are not planning to attend today's session of his trial and will continue their boycott unless a new chief judge they accuse of bias apologises for "intimidating" them, their leader said.

"We took a decision unanimously not to attend the next session at all because we don't want to harm our clients or ourselves," chief lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi told Reuters in Amman, where the ousted Iraqi president's defence team is based.

"Our attendance at future sessions is dependent on whether the court submits a formal apology. We will be adopting a tougher stance from now on," Dulaimi said.

Saddam's trial collapsed into chaos moments after resuming on Sunday, when he and his defence team stormed out and guards dragged his half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti from the courtroom after he refused to keep quiet.

The dramatic scenes were played out as a new chief judge, Raouf Abdel Rahman, tried to stamp his authority on the court, telling lawyers he would not allow them to make political statements in court.

"The judge must apologise for his aggressive and unlawful behaviour. He acted without respect for anyone, in a dictatorial fashion, and was totally biased towards the prosecution," said Dulaimi.

"The atmosphere in the court is now one of intense intimidation and terror, much more than in previous sessions, and this was from the moment we entered the court and even after we left," Dulaimi said.

He cited the treatment of Barzan and of Jordanian lawyer Saleh al-Armouti, who the defence team said was ejected after questioning the legitimacy of the US-backed court.

"Barzan was tied by more than six guards who punched him several blows inside the court and after he was dragged away from the sight of lawyers," Dulaimi said, adding that Saddam himself was nearly punched by guards too.

Dulaimi said Saddam had been advised not to attend today's court session but it was unclear what would happen as the lawyers were barred from seeing him after Sunday's session.

A source in the tribunal said Saddam was legally obliged to attend the hearing, saying that if the former Iraqi leader or any of his co-defendants refused to co-operate "they will be brought in by force".

"Saddam has no right to be absent from the courtroom. We will bring him by force," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The source also said the defendants could not refuse court-appointed lawyers if the defence team continued their boycott.

The new chief judge is under pressure to deal firmly with Saddam after the government accused his predecessor, who resigned two weeks ago, of being too lenient on the former Iraqi leader. Saddam's courtroom tirades have dominated proceedings.

"The chief judge is not his own master, there are hidden hands from behind the scenes that are running the court, the enemies of Iraq and the Arabs," Dulaimi added.

Political interference and chaos in the courtroom have raised questions over whether Saddam can get a fair trial.

The court has been in turmoil since Kurdish chief judge Rizgar Amin resigned, complaining of pressure from the Shi'ite-led government to speed up the process and be firmer in his handling of Saddam.

"The political interference in the court has become much more intense than ever. The new chief judge wants to speed the process and issue a quick conviction," said Dulaimi, demanding that Saddam and his aides be tried in an international court.

- REUTERS