Saddam victims rally at court

2004-07-01 19:54

Baghdad - Over 100 victims of the regime of Saddam Hussein demonstrated in support of Iraq's caretaker government on Thursday as the ex-dictator was due in court, a witness said.

Saddam and 11 top members of his toppled regime were due to make a landmark first appearance at the Iraqi Special Tribunal here, which will try them on a range of charges expected to include war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

"Most of the people here were political prisoners under Saddam. I was tortured myself," said Hussein Abbas, unemployed, at the demonstration outside the fortified compound in central Baghdad where the hearing will take place.

"We want our rights taken into account, a salary and a plot of land," he said.

Some of the banners said "No to terrorism" or expressed support for Iraq's interim government, which took legal custody of Saddam and the 11 others a day after being handed sovereignty by the US-led coalition.

During Saddam's 24 years in power, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis were killed, tortured, raped or sacked from their jobs for any hint of opposition to his ruling Baath party.

- AFP