Saddam's claim 'preposterous'

2005-12-22 09:16

Washington - The White House on Wednesday categorically rejected Saddam Hussein's charge during his trial that Americans had beaten and tortured him, calling the accusation "preposterous".

"I think that's one of the most preposterous things I've heard from Saddam Hussein recently," spokesperson Scott McClellan told reporters when asked about the ousted Iraqi dictator's allegation.

"Saddam Hussein is being treated the exact opposite of the way his regime treated those he imprisoned and tortured simply for expressing their opinions," said McClellan.

"And so I reject that."

Saddam, back in court on charges of crimes against humanity, levelled the charge in an emotional outburst at the end of a day which saw three witnesses describe how they were tortured under Saddam's rule.

"I have been hit by the Americans and tortured," Saddam told the court.

"Yes, I've been beaten on every place of my body and the signs are all over my body," he added.

"We were beaten by the Americans and we were tortured, everyone of us," he said, pointing to his seven co-accused in the dock who are being tried for the murder of some 140 Shi'ites killed in reprisal for an assassination attempt on the former dictator in 1982 in the town of Dujail.

Saddam has been detained by US forces since his capture two years ago.

State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said Saddam's accusation was "highly ironic" given the record of his regime and there was nothing to back up his claim of mistreatment.

"He's been given to grandstanding in this trial," McCormack said.

"But where the focus should be is on the testimony of those people who were victimised by the tyranny, the oppression and the violence of Saddam Hussein."

- AFP