The Farce Continues

Whilst allegations and denials abound in the media over the estimate that at least 600,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since the enforced regime change in Iraq, the farce of the trial of Saddam Hussein continues.

Saddam rebuked the chief judge, Chief Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa, yesterday and accused him of preventing him (Saddam) from defending himself.

Saddam lambasted the judge for switching off the microphone on Tuesday, when Saddam began shouting a verse from the Quran.

Quote:

"When the accuser and prosecutor talk, the world listens. When the man called 'the accused' speaks, you switch off the microphone. Is this fair?"

The judge said that he had cut Saddam's microphone to "bring order to the courtroom."

Adding:

"Clearly you wanted to give a speech when you started reciting a verse from the holy book. You can talk if you want to defend yourself, but not to get into the political labyrinth."

Saddam interrupted, but the judge cut the microphone again.

Also on Wednesday, defendant Hussein Rashid Mohammed protested that a bailiff had hit him the previous day.

"You say the court is Iraqi. Is it acceptable that a defendant is hit and sworn at in front of the judge?"

Al-Khalifa replied:

"Everyone in this court is under my protection."

The farce continues, as does the chaos in the streets of Iraq.