Tariq Aziz testifies as defence witness in Saddam trial
Tariq Aziz, once a close member of Saddam Hussein’s inner circle, took the stand today as a defence witness in the Baghdad trial of the former Iraqi leader.
Aziz, a former foreign minister and deputy prime minister, sat on the stand wearing pyjamas and looked pale.
Aziz, who is in US custody, has complained of health problems and his family has been pressing for him to be let out temporarily for medical treatment.
Chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman opened the session with a sharp warning to the defence lawyers and the eight defendants that he would not allow insults to the court. In the previous session, Abdel-Rahman threw out a woman defence lawyer when she tried to speak after he warned he not to.
“From the beginning, we have said that this court is a transparent one and the defence team and defendants are allowed to express their attitude in a democratic way. No one is allowed, whoever he is and under any name, to attack the court, its employees and Iraqi people.” he said.
Abdel-Rahman has shown increasing frustration with the defendants’ constant accusations that the court was formed by Americans and is illegitimate. The lawyer he ejected, Bushra al-Khalil, has made that argument in past sessions, though she did not on Monday when she was forced out.
The judge’s comments sparked an argument with Saddam and his fellow defendant, former intelligence chief Barzan Ibrahim, who stood and chided Abdel-Rahman for being too harsh.
“Your honour, you are before a big case, and we all have to control ourselves and deal with each other in a calm way. You insulted a woman last time,” he said.
“Sit down. If you continue with this I’ll throw you out,” Abdel-Rahmamn shouted. At first Ibrahim tried to argue with him, but a guard entered the defendants’ pen, and Ibrahim sat down.
“Do you want to shut people’s mouth this way?” Saddam spoke up from him seat.
“Quiet. You are a defendant,” Abdel-Rahman yelled.
“I am Saddam Hussein, your president, and you did elect me,” Saddam shouted back.
Saddam and several former top aides on trial for their alleged roles in a 1982 massacre in the Iraqi town of Dujail in reprisal for an assassination attempt on the Iraqi dictator.
| Related Stories: |
|
