On Thursday Saddam Hussein claimed in court that his written testimony had been altered.
Quote:
"Some of these sentences were inserted in the testimony".
This was dismissed by Presiding Judge Rauf Abdel Rahman, who said:
"Your legal representatives were present at the time you gave that testimony.
Did he not read it when you signed it?"
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Saddam Dismisses Evidence
Saddam Hussein yesterday dismissed evidence suggesting that he authorised the execution of people under 18, the minimum age for death sentences under his rule.
Well he would say that, wouldn't he?
He was being cross-examined about the killing of Shias in the town of Dujail, following an assassination attempt on him in 1982.
During the session, a defence lawyer was ejected from court when she tried to display photos of Iraqis tortured in US run prisons.
She said:
"This is what the Americans did to Iraqis in Abu Ghraib." She said, as the court was examining alleged deaths during interrogation under Saddam Hussein's rule.
The prosecution produced documents that showed that 28 people, whose executions had been approved of by Saddam, were under 18.
Chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi presented the id cards of the children, and read out their dates of birth.
Saddam said that id cards could easily be forged.
Quote:
"There is a clear ulterior motive by those who have given you these documents. You can buy IDs like this in the market. Is it the responsibility of the head of the state to check the IDs of defendants and see how old he is?"
The trial continues.
Well he would say that, wouldn't he?
He was being cross-examined about the killing of Shias in the town of Dujail, following an assassination attempt on him in 1982.
During the session, a defence lawyer was ejected from court when she tried to display photos of Iraqis tortured in US run prisons.
She said:
"This is what the Americans did to Iraqis in Abu Ghraib." She said, as the court was examining alleged deaths during interrogation under Saddam Hussein's rule.
The prosecution produced documents that showed that 28 people, whose executions had been approved of by Saddam, were under 18.
Chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi presented the id cards of the children, and read out their dates of birth.
Saddam said that id cards could easily be forged.
Quote:
"There is a clear ulterior motive by those who have given you these documents. You can buy IDs like this in the market. Is it the responsibility of the head of the state to check the IDs of defendants and see how old he is?"
The trial continues.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Saddam Hussein's Trial Resumes
Saddam Hussein's trial resumed today, with the usual display of grandstanding by the former leader of Iraq.
Saddam accused Iraq's Interior Ministry of killing and torturing thousands of people. He was then told by the judge to refrain from political statements, prompting Saddam to retort:
"You're scared of the interior minister, he doesn't scare my dog."
During the cross examination, Saddam demanded that an international body examine signatures on an order approving death sentences against those accused of organising an assassination attempt against him in Dujail in 1982.
He noted that witnesses presented by the prosecution in the case were bribed.
"The witnesses who testified were brought here after being bribed and briefed of what was to be said."
Challenging the judge, Saddam said:
"Who could dare to give a verdict against the president who defended his country and stood up against those who fought with Iraq?"
Clearly he forgets that he is no longer president.
Saddam accused Iraq's Interior Ministry of killing and torturing thousands of people. He was then told by the judge to refrain from political statements, prompting Saddam to retort:
"You're scared of the interior minister, he doesn't scare my dog."
During the cross examination, Saddam demanded that an international body examine signatures on an order approving death sentences against those accused of organising an assassination attempt against him in Dujail in 1982.
He noted that witnesses presented by the prosecution in the case were bribed.
"The witnesses who testified were brought here after being bribed and briefed of what was to be said."
Challenging the judge, Saddam said:
"Who could dare to give a verdict against the president who defended his country and stood up against those who fought with Iraq?"
Clearly he forgets that he is no longer president.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Second Trial
Jaafar al-Mousawi, the chief prosecutor for the tribunal trying Saddam Hussein, said that yesterday he received the investigating judge's file on Saddam's role in the 1988 Anfal campaign against Kurdish rebels. Anfal saw many thousands of civilians killed.
Mousawi said that the case could now proceed, and be assigned to a second criminal panel that will set a date for the initial court session on the Anfal campaign.
This will be a different trial to the current one that Saddam is attending. However, it is not expected to commence in the near future and at least 45 days notice is required under Iraqi law.
Mousawi expects over eight defendants, including Saddam and his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majeed, to be charged with crimes against humanity in the Anfal case.
The current trial of Saddam is expected to resume tomorrow.
Mousawi said that the case could now proceed, and be assigned to a second criminal panel that will set a date for the initial court session on the Anfal campaign.
This will be a different trial to the current one that Saddam is attending. However, it is not expected to commence in the near future and at least 45 days notice is required under Iraqi law.
Mousawi expects over eight defendants, including Saddam and his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majeed, to be charged with crimes against humanity in the Anfal case.
The current trial of Saddam is expected to resume tomorrow.
Monday, April 03, 2006
UAE Implicated In Oil for Food Scandal
A review of the United Nations inquiry into the oil for food scandal, shows that around 110 UAE companies have been named in respect of Saddam Hussein's manipulation of the scheme.
The report, Manipulation of the Oil for Food Programme by the Iraqi Regime, was prepared for the UN by Paul Volcker, chairman of the panel, Richard J Goldstone, Mark Pieth and others.
The report indicates that Emirates companies, contracted to supply Iraq with humanitarian goods, paid Saddam over $100M in illegal kickbacks.
Saddam has been accused of rigging the $64BN aid programme, by demanding up to 10% of the value of contracts for both the sale of oil and the provision of goods and supplies paid for with the revenue generated.
The report documented that approximately $2BN of contracts were awarded to Emirates businesses to supply humanitarian goods to Iraq. It is alleged that over $100M was paid to the regime.
These kickbacks, according to the UN, provided "Iraq's largest source of illicit income."
According to the report, the biggest beneficiary of aid programme, was a Dubai based business founded by Saddam. Al Wasel & Babel General Trading Company obtained nearly $375M of contracts to supply a wide variety of goods including; vehicle spare parts, wood, toilet soap, tea, vegetable ghee and rice. In return it remitted $19M to Saddam.
One wonders why the UN did not monitor this aid programme in a more proactive and efficient manner?
The report, Manipulation of the Oil for Food Programme by the Iraqi Regime, was prepared for the UN by Paul Volcker, chairman of the panel, Richard J Goldstone, Mark Pieth and others.
The report indicates that Emirates companies, contracted to supply Iraq with humanitarian goods, paid Saddam over $100M in illegal kickbacks.
Saddam has been accused of rigging the $64BN aid programme, by demanding up to 10% of the value of contracts for both the sale of oil and the provision of goods and supplies paid for with the revenue generated.
The report documented that approximately $2BN of contracts were awarded to Emirates businesses to supply humanitarian goods to Iraq. It is alleged that over $100M was paid to the regime.
These kickbacks, according to the UN, provided "Iraq's largest source of illicit income."
According to the report, the biggest beneficiary of aid programme, was a Dubai based business founded by Saddam. Al Wasel & Babel General Trading Company obtained nearly $375M of contracts to supply a wide variety of goods including; vehicle spare parts, wood, toilet soap, tea, vegetable ghee and rice. In return it remitted $19M to Saddam.
One wonders why the UN did not monitor this aid programme in a more proactive and efficient manner?
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