Saddam, co-defendants forced to attend latest session of trial

(13 Feb 2006)
++PLEASE NOTE, AP TELEVISION NEWS DOES NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE LIVE POOL FEED BEING DELIVERED FROM BAGHDAD, WHICH OPERATES WITH A 20 MINUTE DELAY.
THIS PACKAGE HAS BEEN EDITED FROM THAT LIVE SIGNAL.++
1. Wide of trial's new chief judge, Raouf Abdel-Rahman
2. Wide of empty chairs
3. Mid shot of judge
4. Saddam shouting, UPSOUND: (Arabic) "Down with the agents. Down with Bush. Long live the nation, long live the nation!"
5. Mid shot of Raouf Abdel-Rahman
6. Mid shot of Saddam sitting in dock, UPSOUND: (Arabic) "Why have you brought us with force?" he asked Abdel-Rahman. "your authority gives you the right to try the defendant with absentia. Are you trying to overcome your own smallness?"
7. Mid shot of Raouf Abdel-Rahman, UPSOUND: (Arabic) "The law will be implemented."
8. Mid shot of Saddam and co-defendant
9. Mid shot of Raouf Abdel-Rahman
10. Mid shot of co-defendant (soundbite begins)
11. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Barzan Ibrahim, co-defendant:
"Long live Iraq (noise). Long live the people of Iraq!"
12. Raouf Abdel-Rahman, UPSOUND: (Arabic) "Sit down"
13. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Barzan Ibrahim, co-defendant:
"Shame and disgrace on you Raouf!"
14. Close up of court sign, UPSOUND: (Arabic) Saddam "Shame and disgrace on you Raouf!"
15. Mid shot of judge
16. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saddam, co-defendant:
"Shame and disgrace on you Raouf!"
17. Barzan
18. Judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman
19. Saddam
STORYLINE
Saddam Hussein attended the latest session of his trial on Monday despite a defence boycott, shouting "Down with Bush" as he entered the courtroom.
The former Iraqi leader looked haggard, wearing a blue robe rather than the suit he has worn previously.
After Saddam entered on his own, his co-defendant Barzan Ibrahim was brought in by guards as he shouted and protested, briefly scuffling with guards.
(CLIENTS NOTE, THE PICTURES OF BARZAN SCUFFLING WITH GUARDS WERE NOT PROVIDED ON THE LIVE FEED)
Saddam complained to the court that he was being forced to attend. The eight defendants boycotted the past sessions, refusing to work with court-appointed defence attorneys named after their own defence team walked out in protest.
Saddam shouted, "Down with the agents. Down with Bush. Long live the nation!" referring to the American president, as he entered the room.
He wore a blue galabeya - a traditional Arab robe - and a black jacket, a stark contrast to the tailored black suits he has worn to past sessions.
Saddam's wants the replacement of the trial's new chief judge, Raouf Abdel-Rahman, a Kurd, who took over last month after his predecessor stepped down amid criticism over his handling of the trial.
The defence claims that Abdel-Rahman is unfit to try the case because he was sentenced to life in absentia in the 1970s for anti-state activity. Saddam became president in 1979, but was Iraq's most powerful man for several years before that.
In his first session in charge on Jan. 29, Abdel-Rahman tried to restore the authority of the court which had witnessed numerous outbursts from Saddam and Ibrahim, Iraq's former intelligence chief.
The judge ejected one defence lawyer, prompting the rest to leave in protest. Saddam and three co-defendants were also allowed to leave or forcibly removed, and the judge appointed replacement defence lawyers.
In the following session Feb. 1, only three defendants attended; none showed up the next day.

#Saddam #Hussein #Trial
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