Fred Harteis News Articles - The trial of Saddam Hussein and his seven co-defendants resumed today with the former Iraqi leader telling the court that he wished to be shot by firing squad rather than hanged “like a regular criminal” if he is convicted.
Mr. Hussein, who like two other defendants had been on a feeding tube and consuming only sweet coffee and water with nutrients, has apparently ended his hunger strike of more than two weeks and eaten a meal today that included beef and rice, according to pool reports quoting a court official.
He said he was forced to appear in court and had been on a hunger strike since July 8 to protest what he calls the court’s illegitimacy and a lack of security for the defense team that resulted in three lawyers being killed.
In the last session on Monday, only Mr. Hussein’s half-brother, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, who once directed the state security apparatus, showed up in court.
The trial has been beset with defense accusations that it is biased and acrimonious banter between the defendants and the judge. Lawyers have contended that the defendants are innocent of the charges based on the torture and executions of 148 men and boys from the Shiite
The killings were in retaliation for what the Sunni-led government considered to be an attempt by guerrillas to kill Mr. Hussein in 1982. The defendants are also accused of razing the village’s orchards, effectively destroying the residents’ livelihood.
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Source: Nytimes.com
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