Defiant Saddam stands firm
2004-07-01 13:22
Baghdad - An unrepentant Saddam Hussein appeared in court on Thursday to hear a string of charges for which he could face the death penalty, in a landmark moment for the new Iraq.
A visibly tired Saddam defended his August 1990 invasion of Kuwait and refused to sign legal papers after seven charges were read against him, an official of the Iraqi Special Tribunal said.
Insisting he was still president of Iraq during the 30-minute hearing, the ousted dictator in a grey suit, speaking in a hoarse voice, questioned the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
"This is all a theatre. The real criminal is Bush," said a thin-looking Saddam, who was handcuffed and chained, referring to US President George W Bush.
Eleven senior members of his regime, including former deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz and Saddam's first cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, better known as "Chemical Ali", were also due to appear before the tribunal on Thursday.
Officials said videotape of the ex-president in court would be carefully checked before they are released to public.
The faces of those involved, except for Saddam and 11 former aides who are due to appear later in the day, will be obscured to guard against any attacks by supporters of the disgraced despot.
The footage will be the world's first glimpse of Saddam since footage was released of a bearded and dishevelled former strongman after his arrest by American troops.