Lawyer's killing may force delay in Saddam trial

BAGHDAD - The court trying Saddam Hussein for crimes against humanity is due to hear final arguments from his defence team on Monday, but court officials say the killing of a defence lawyer may force a delay.

Saddam, his half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and five former Baath party allies face the death sentence if found guilty of crimes against humanity for the killing of 148 Shi'ites in the village of Dujail in 1982.

In a new setback to the US-backed trial, gunmen last month killed Khamis al-Obaidi, Saddam's deputy chief lawyer, after kidnapping him from his Baghdad home, the third defence attorney to be killed since the tumultuous trial opened in October.

"Defence lawyers might ask the judge to adjourn the trial for a few days," a court official told Reuters.

"They are saying that the killing of Obaidi has disrupted their work to prepare their final arguments and prosecutors might agree to this."

The prosecution has demanded the death penalty for Saddam and three of his former senior aides for their roles in the killings, torture and executions that followed an attempt on the Iraqi leader's life in Dujail.

Chief lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi, who has blamed pro-government Shi'ite militias for the killing of his deputy, said last month they were considering boycotting Monday's session.

Once final statements are in, a five-judge panel is expected to adjourn to consider a verdict. Officials close to the court say a verdict on Dujail could come as early as September.

- REUTERS