Iraqi government asks Saddam court to sack judge

BAGHDAD - Iraq's government has asked the US-backed court trying Saddam Hussein on genocide charges to sack the chief judge, saying he had lost his "neutrality" after stating the ousted leader was not a dictator.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Reuters the court had agreed to replace Abdullah al-Amiri with a new judge. The court could not be immediately reached to confirm this. A US official close to the court said he was unaware of any change.

"We have asked the court to replace the judge because he has lost his neutrality after he made comments saying Saddam is not a dictator," Dabbagh said.

"The court told us he has already been replaced. This was a decision by the cabinet of the prime minister," he said.

The court presided by Amiri is trying Saddam, his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majeed, known as "Chemical Ali", and five others for war crimes and crimes against humanity for their role in the 1988 Anfal campaign against ethnic Kurds.

Saddam and Majeed also face the graver charge of genocide. If found guilty all men face death by hanging.

A judge in a separate trial of Saddam for killing Shi'ites in the 1980s stepped down earlier this year, citing political interference from the government.

The court was initially set up by US occupying forces to try Saddam for crimes committed during his rule. It is now run by Iraqis although Americans act as advisers.

- REUTERS