Saddam: Washington is 'lying'
2005-12-22 11:49
Baghdad - Saddam Hussein has again insisted at his trial that he had been beaten by his American captors, calling Washington's denials of abuse "lies."
The former Iraqi leader on Wednesday told the court that he'd been beaten "everywhere on my body. The marks are still there." He did not display any marks.
US officials strongly denied the allegations, calling the claims "completely unfounded".
Saddam said American denials couldn't be believed, using as a rational the fact no weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq despite pre-war claims by US officials that Saddam was harbouring such weapons.
"We don't lie. It is the White House that lies," he told the court.
He claimed that the wounds he suffered from the alleged beatings had been documented by at least two American teams and that it took eight months for some of the wounds to heal. He didn't say where he was when he was allegedly beaten.
The former leader again started talking about his claims during a time when he's allowed to cross examine witnesses.
The former Iraqi leader and seven co-defendants are on trial for the deaths of more than 140 Shiites after the attempt on Saddam's life in the town of Dujail, north of Baghdad.
- AP