Saddam faces showdown with court

BAGHDAD - Saddam Hussein appeared headed for a showdown today with the court trying him, after the chief prosecutor said the former Iraqi leader would be forced to attend if he persisted in boycotting proceedings.

Saddam, whose trial for crimes against humanity resumes on Monday following an 11-day break, did not turn up for the last two hearings after he and several of his seven co-accused staged a walkout on January 29.

But chief prosecutor Ja'afar Moussawi signalled on Sunday the court had lost patience with Saddam and his co-defendants, who include his half-brother and former top aides.

"Tomorrow they will attend the trial. If they refuse they will be forced. The court has the authority," he told Reuters.

He also disclosed that six former high-ranking members of Saddam's government would testify during this week's two-day hearing, although he declined to name them.

It was not clear whether Saddam planned to attend Monday's hearing. His defence lawyers have not met him since they stormed out of the court on January 29 after clashing with new chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman. Saddam has refused court-appointed counsel.

The defence team, headed by Khalil Dulaimi, walked out after the judge ejected a member of the team and a defendant for refusing to be quiet. They have refused to return to the US-sponsored court until certain demands are met, including the removal of the judge, whom they accuse of bias.

- REUTERS