AP: Saddam Trial Adjourned for Two Weeks

[Eugene]

Saddam Trial Adjourned for Two Weeks

By BUSHRA JUHI
The Associated Press
Tuesday, July 11, 2006; 4:48 AM

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Two defendants in the trial of Saddam Hussein made their closing
arguments Tuesday before the judge adjourned the proceedings for nearly two weeks
in an attempt to resolve a boycott of the court by the former Iraqi leader and his
lawyers.

Chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman said the court would resume on July 24 and warned
that if the lawyers did not agree to return by that time, court-appointed lawyers
would make the final arguments for Saddam and three other top defendants in the
case.

"The absence of the original lawyers to defend the defendant will harm the case
of his client," Abdel-Rahman said, then added, addressing the lawyers who were
present, "Tell your colleagues ... that court-appointed lawyers will present the
closing argument in case they do not attend."

Lawyers for Saddam, Barzan Ibrahim, Taha Yassin Ramadan and Awad al-Bandar
announced Monday they were boycotting the final phase of the trial unless a list
of demands were met, including greater security after the slaying of one of their
colleagues last month.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/11/AR2006071100123.html

[afrosia]

1. Now I can see why we like to just have people killed.

This trial is taking forever.