Saddam Hussein's trial resumed Monday for closing arguments, a day after the former Iraqi president was hospitalized and fed with a tube during his hunger strike to demand better security for his lawyers.
Prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi said Saddam's condition had stabilized and he should be fit to appear in court this week. He was not present when the trial resumed Monday, the AP reported.
Defence attorneys refused to turn up in protest against what they have said was the court's refusal to meet their demands for a fair trial, Reuters reported. In the court, Saddam's half-brother and former intelligence chief, Barzan al-Tikriti, stated he refused his court-appointed attorney and demanded he be allowed to leave the chamber. "I am here against my will," he said.
Barzan asked Abdel Rahman to adjourn the trial but the request was turned down. "The decision of your lawyers not to attend the court is for the purpose of the media only. I want to ask you how long you and your lawyers will continue to play this game with the court," he said.
