Courting death in Saddam trials
2006-09-29 21:30
Baghdad - Gunmen killed a brother-in-law
of Mohammed al-Ureybi, the new judge trying Saddam Hussein, on Friday in what the Iraqi government said was a direct attack on the court by Saddam's followers.
As Ureybi's relatives left their home in their car, gunmen opened fire, killing Kadhem Abdul Hussein and
hitting his wife and his son Karrar, a police source said.
It was at least the fourth killing closely connected to the
US-sponsored court, following those of three defence lawyers,
and will raise new questions about its ability to conduct fair
trials in a nation on the verge of sectarian civil war.
"This was purposely and intentionally from groups which are
connected to Saddam," spokesperson Ali al-Dabbagh told Reuters,
adding, however, that he expected Ureybi to continue presiding
over the genocide trial which he took over last week.
Saddam, 69, faces hanging if convicted, but no execution can
take place until after an appeals process that could take years.
- Reuters