Saddam Hussein ordered out of courtroom

The chief judge trying the toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and six of his aides ordered Saddam out of the courtroom on Tuesday after argument.

The judge Muhammed Ureybi interrupted Saddam who recited a verse from Quran, the holy Muslim book, when he was allowed to speak after the first woman Kurdish witness finished giving testimony.

"Fight them and God will punish them," Saddam inaugurated his speech which incited Judge Ureybi who ordered Saddam out of the court.

The decision prompted the other codefendants to argue the judge who ordered them out.

Saddam and his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali," as well as five former commanders face charges of genocide for their role in Anfal, which the chief prosecutor said left some 182,000 people dead or missing.

Saddam, who is awaiting a possible death sentence verdict for a separate case involving killing of some 148 Shiites.

All the main charges in Anfal carry death penalty.

Source: Xinhua