The Trial of Saddam Hussein and The Fallout of The War

The Trial of Saddam Hussein

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The fallout in the Middle East from the regime change in Iraq

Friday, November 18, 2005

Saddam's Nephew Wanted

The Iraqi Attorney General, Chathanfar Hmod Al-Jasim, has presented Interpol with an extradition request to bring Omar Sabawi Ibrahim Hasan Al-Tikriti, Saddam Hussein's nephew, back from Yemen to Baghdad.

The Iraqi's want him to stand trial for "committing acts of terror".

Omar Sabawi Ibrahim Hasan Al-Tikriti is alleged to have played a leading role, and to have provided financial support, to terrorist organisations.

The Iraqi government said:

"His efforts resulted in many deaths, injuries and destruction of property"

Omar's father, Sabawi Ibrahim Hasan Al-Tikriti, former director of the Iraqi Intelligence Service, is awaiting trial for committing crimes against humanity.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Saddam Assaulted

It is reported that during interrogation, Saddam Hussein, was assaulted by his interegators.

Saddam was being questioned about the suppression of the 1991 Shiite uprising. He allegedly hurled an obscenity at two of Shiite Islam's holiest figures.

He was asked about the shrines of the imams Hussein and Abbas, that were targeted by government forces seizing back control of Karbala. It is alleged that at first he pretended at first not to know to whom the investigative judges were referring.

He then swore, at which point two of court's clerks taking notes allegedly lunged at him and started pummeling him with blows.

The beating was stopped, only after the chief judge intervened.

Saddam was allegedly left with a minor bruise to the forehead, the US guards posted outside the makeshift courthouse near Baghdad international airport were said to be amused and opted not to intervene.

It seems that Iraq has still some way to go before it rids itself of the brutality, and habit of brutality, of the past.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Saddam's Trial Still On

Saddam Hussein's trial will be restarted on schedule, on the 28th of November, despite the murder of two of his defence team.

Raid Juhi, one of the judges on the special tribunal trying Saddam, says that the court is ready to appoint a new team if lawyers fail to appear.

This may well be necessary, as Saddam's team have already said that they will withdraw due to inadequate protection.

Juhi is quoted as saying:

"We have many legal experts and lawyers, and (the court) will choose from among them".

Monday, November 14, 2005

Saddam's Aide Reported Dead

A Ba'ath party website has stated that Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the deputy of Saddam Hussein is dead.

The statement on the website said:

"On the soil of Arabic Iraq, the soul of Comrade Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri returned to God the Creator on Friday at dawn."

Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri was 61 years old, and was deputy chief of the Iraqi armed forces; he was reportedly one of Saddam's most trusted confidants.

Ibrahim was the most senior member of the former regime still at large, and his whereabouts were unknown.

The US military had put a $10M reward on his head.