Saddam Allowed To Attend His Own Trial

Saddam Hussein was allowed to attend his own trial today, contrary to yesterday's session where he was blocked by the judge from attending.

Chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman had rejected requests that all the defendants be allowed to attend on Tuesday, he said that their presence was not necessary.

However, today he changed his mind and told the court that all the defendants would be allowed to be present.

Witnesses on Tuesday and Wednesday were testifying on behalf of defendants Abdullah Kazim al-Ruwayyid and his son Mizhar, two local Baath Party officials accused of aiding the crackdown against Shiites in Dujail in 1982.

Three witnesses, two Dujail residents and a nephew of Abdullah al-Ruwayyid, told the court today that the al-Ruwayyids had nothing to do with the crackdown.

One Dujail resident said about Abdullah al-Ruwayyid:

"I saw him a month later, and never heard from any Dujail residents that he took part in any arrests with the security forces."

Saddam has argued that the crackdown was a legal response to the assassination attempt.

The trial continues.