Saddam yells at judge in unruly session
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-05 20:47

Saddam Hussein's defense team walked out of court Monday, the former leader yelled at the judge, and Saddam's half brother shouted "Why don't you just execute us!" in an often unruly court session that also saw former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark speak on behalf of the deposed president.

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, front right, and Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, back right, berate the court during their trial in Baghdad, Monday Dec. 5, 2005. All of Hussein's defense team walked out of the courtroom in protest after the judge denied a motion to immediately delay proceedings. The Iraqi High Tribunal convened Monday for a third session of the trial of Saddam and seven co-defendants, accused in the 1982 killing of more than 140 Shiites after an assassination attempt against the president in Dujail. [AP]

After the lawyers walked out, Saddam, shaking his right hand, told the judge: "You are imposing lawyers on us. They are imposed lawyers. The court is imposed by itself. We reject that."

Clark said he needed only two minutes to present his argument. But Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin at first said only Saddam's chief lawyer could speak. Amin said the defense should submit its motion in writing and warned that if the defense walked out then the court would appoint replacement lawyers.

Saddam and his half brother Barazan Ibrahim then chanted "Long live Iraq, long live the Arab state."

Ibrahim stood up and shouted: "Why don't you just execute us and get rid of all of this!"

When the judge explained that he was ruling in accordance with the law, Saddam replied: "This is a law made by America and does not reflect Iraqi sovereignty."

It was the third court session in the trial of Saddam and seven co-defendants — accused in the 1982 killing of more than 140 Shiites after an assassination attempt against the president in Dujail — where Saddam at times appeared to be in control of the court as much as the judge presiding over the trial.