Saddam pleads 'not guilty'
2005-10-19 13:54
Baghdad - A defiant Saddam Hussein, proclaiming he was still "president" of Iraq, on Wednesday refused to give even his name as he appeared in court on the first day of a trial being watched across the globe.
Hussein pleaded not guilty at his trial on Wednesday on charges of crimes against humanity over a 1982 massacre of Shi'ite villagers.
"I said what I said, I am not guilty, I am innocent," Saddam told the court after the charges were read.
All other seven defendants also declared they were "innocent."
They face the death penalty if convicted.
"They are charged with murder, forced expulsion, imprisonment, failure to comply with international law and torture," chief judge Rizkar Mohammed Amin told the eight.
Combative mood
"These defendants have personal responsibilty in the case," he said, adding that according to the legal code, the charges carry the death penalty.
Saddam, carrying an old copy of the Qur'an and in seemingly robust shape, was in combative mood as he delivered a widely predicted but feisty tirade against the judge and the legitimacy of the court.
After entering the courtroom Saddam, who was not handcuffed and wore a grey suit and open necked shirt, sat in the front pen along with one other defendant. The remaining defendants were spread among the other two pens.
Chief judge Rizkar Mohammed Amin then asked Saddam to state his name, profession and tribal name. He refused to give his name or answer any other questions. Television images were subject to a 30 minute time delay.
Saddam - still instantly recognisable with his trademark beard now flecked with grey - had no qualms about engaging in a protracted and increasingly heated exchange with the Kurdish judge.
The silver haired Amin, wearing a striped tie and black gown countered: "I want for the moment that you give your identity, your name, your first name and then we will listen to you. You will have your day, we will give you a chance to speak."
"We do not have the time to hear you opinions. Just relax and say who you are," he said.
Saddam went on to say: "I say I don't answer this so-called court, with all due respect. And I reserve my constitutional right as the president of the country of Iraq, I will not go along.
"I don't acknowledge either the entity that authorises you nor the aggression because everything based on falsehood is falsehood," Saddam said.
"I am the president of Iraq. I am still opinion that this court is illegitimate. This court is false and whatever is built on a false premise is false."
The former Iraqi leader also said he was appalled at being unable to bring writing materials into the courtroom.
"This is a formality of the court," reaffirmed an increasingly exasperated looking Amin. "You can sit down so that we can begin," he told the former leader.
Saddam also refused to hand over his identity card for examination.
Three of the eight defendants were wearing tribal headdress. The proceedings were briefly held up when some claimed they were not allowed to wear the dress but they reappeared later wearing the full attire.