Saddam Testifies

Saddam Hussein took the stand for the first time at his trial yesterday.

Needless to say he made the most of it, and grandstanded by inciting "insurgents" to fight the US and other non Iraqi forces in the country.

The judge, at this point, decided that it was best to close the session to the press and public.

Saddam chose to ignore the charges that he was on trial for, and instead gave a 50 minute rambling monologue.

I would question as to why he was allowed to do this.

Saddam kicked off by saying:

"O Iraqis, in your resistance to the invasion by the Americans and Zionists and their allies, you are great in my eyes and will remain so.

It is only a short time before the sun will rise and you will be victorious. "

Judge Raouf Rasheed Abdel Rahman, fearful of the near civil war that is threatening to tear Iraq apart, shut off Hussein's microphone nine times before closing the court.

The judge said:

"You are being tried in a criminal case for killing innocent people, not because of your conflict with America."

Saddam answered:

"Just yesterday 80 people were killed in Baghdad.

Are they not innocent?"

Saddam seems to be conveniently forgetting that many of the current deaths are attributable to his "loyalists", acting under his last instructions given to them before he was ousted.

Saddam went on to mock the judge and the trial. He called the judge "your highness" and called the trial a "comedy", still claiming to be president.

He went on to tell the Iraqis to stop fighting, and unite against the occupiers lest:

"you will live in darkness and rivers of blood for no reason."

The judge ordered that Saddam stop making political speeches, to which Saddam retorted:

"If it were not for politics, I would not be here, and you would not be here."

Chief prosecutor Jaafar Mousawi tried to lecture Saddam, at which point the defence team intervened, prompting the judge to scream at them and at Saddam.

The trial is now adjourned until the 5th of April.