QandO

July 01, 2004

Bring out the next....deaf...end...ant!
Posted by Jon Henke

Updates from the APWire, as they come across...

[7:03am] A U-S military spokeswoman in Baghdad confirms that court proceedings against Saddam Hussein have begun.

[7:20am] News reports say Saddam Hussein has refused to sign a legal document outlining the charges against him.

[7:21am] C-N-N is reporting the court hearing is over.

[7:22am] A C-N-N reporter who was in the courtroom says the toppled Iraqi president was alternatively downcast and defiant.

[7:23am] The judge read seven preliminary charges against Saddam, including the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. But Saddam defended the invasion. He also told the court that "this is all theater," and that "the real criminal is Bush."

[7:26am] C-N-N says Saddam was handcuffed, with a chain around his waist, while being transported to the court but the cuffs and chain were removed before he entered the courtroom. His feet were not shackled.

[7:26am] Saddam also was dressed in civilian clothes, his beard neatly trimmed.

[7:28am] Twice during the hearing, Saddam identified himself as Saddam Hussein, the president of Iraq.

More:

[8:11] Here is a list of the broad charges Saddam Hussein faces, according to Iraqi authorities at today's hearing. Specific charges will be filed later.

- Killing of religious figures in 1974.
- Killing the Kurdish Barzani clan in 1983.
- Gassing of Kurds in Halabja in 1988.
- Killing members of political parties over the last 30 years.
- The 1986-1988 "Anfal" campaign of displacing Kurds.
- The 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
- The suppression of the 1991 uprisings by Kurds and Shiites.

[8:25am] The world went to war over it. But Saddam Hussein defended his 1990 invasion of Kuwait in an Iraqi court today.

The invasion is one of several charges against the former Iraqi president. But he told the judge, "the Kuwaitis were dogs," and using Iraqi women as prostitutes. He says he was defending their honor. The judge reprimanded Saddam for using that language.

TrackBack