Saddam trial to resume with hidden witnesses

BAGHDAD - The trial of Saddam Hussein on charges of crimes against humanity is set to resume today with some witnesses to have their identities concealed.

On the eve of its resumption, a member of the five-judge panel stood down citing potential conflict of interest because one of Saddam's co-defendants has been linked to the killing of the judge's brother, court officials said.

An alternate judge will step onto the panel in his place on Monday, officials said.

It is nearly two years after Saddam was captured.

The trial, which was due to resume at around 10am (8pm NZT), may continue for up to three days, with up to 11 witnesses appearing in all.

Eight of the witnesses will have their identities concealed in one way or another -- a practice that could raise doubt about the defence's access to witnesses whose names and faces are not known.

At the second court session held on November 28, proceedings were adjourned for a week to give two of the eight defendants time to find new defence attorneys after two lawyers were assassinated and another fled the country in fear.

The United Nations representative for human rights in Iraq on Sunday said Saddam's trial would never meet international standards of fairness and transparency.

"Weakness in the system of administration of justice, in addition to the antecedents surrounding the establishment of this tribunal, will never be able to produce the kind of process that would be able to satisfy international standards," John Pace said.

Former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, who joined Saddam's defence team at the last session, is expected to be allowed to appear in court even though paperwork concerning his application is still being reviewed.

Clark has advised several controversial figures over the years, including former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic, and was to have met Saddam on Sunday.

Further delays in the trial are expected ahead of December 15 parliamentary elections.

Saddam's defence team has already filed another motion declaring that, as former president, he has sovereign immunity and a third motion asking for more time to prepare. Chief judge, Rizgar Mohammed Amin, has not ruled on any of those motions.

International observers have raised concerns about the court, which operates under a mix of Iraq's criminal code, some international statutes and others written specifically for the tribunal, which was originally formed under US occupation.

They also are worried about the amount of time the defence has had to prepare for a complex case involving allegations of crimes against humanity connected to the death of 148 men after an attempt on Saddam's life in 1982.

- REUTERS