New Judge takes charge in Saddam's trial

AP via NY Times:

Saddam Hussein's trial quickly collapsed into chaos after resuming Sunday with one defendant dragged out of court and the defense team walking out in protest. The former Iraqi leader was then ejected after shouting ''down with traitors'' and ''down with America.''

The new chief judge in the trial, Raouf Abdel-Rahman, sought to show tough control over the court. He was brought in a shake-up sparked when his predecessor resigned this month after complaints that he was not doing enough to rein in Saddam's frequent courtroom outbursts.

But the stormy session Sunday -- the first in a month -- will likely increase doubts over the trial's fairness, already raised by the shake-up that brought in Abdel-Rahman.

After a defense lawyer was removed, the entire defense team left in protest as the judge shouted after them, ''Any lawyer who walks out will not be allowed back into this courtroom.''

Abdel-Rahman appointed four new defense lawyers. But two other defendants, Taha Yassin Ramadan and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, said they opposed the appointment and demanded to leave. They were escorted out.

The proceedings resumed with only four of the eight defendants present, and none of their original lawyers. The court began hearing an anonymous female prosecution witness, who testified from behind a light blue curtain, as several earlier witnesses have done to protect them from reprisals.

The chaos began within 15 minutes of the session's start. After the judge's opening statement, Saddam's co-defendant Barzan Ibrahim stood and asked to address the court. Abdel-Rahman, who had already shouted at one defense lawyer for interrupting, told him to make his point quickly. Ibrahim called the court ''the daughter of a whore.''

At this point, the delayed television feed showing the proceedings was cut off. The video, which is control of the judges, resumed some time later, cutting out the removal of Ibrahim and the subsequent fight with the lawyers but showing the judge's arguments with Saddam.

After Ibrahim's outburst, the judge ordered him to sit down, shouting, ''One more word and I'm throwing you out.'' When Ibrahim refused to sit, two burly guards grabbed him by the arms and after some pushing and shoving, dragged him out of the court.

As they scuffled, Saddam stood and shouted, ''Down with the traitors. Down with America.'' Defense lawyers began shouting as well. ''Is this a street demonstration, are you lawyers?'' Abdel-Rahman barked at them.

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This should have happened earlier. The prior judges laxity has made the situation worse.