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Saddam pleads innocent, gets into scuffle
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-20 19:35
Iraqis and much of the Arab world watched glitchy television coverage of the
proceedings intently, watching Saddam strike a pose reminiscent of the
once-ubiquitous television pictures of him sitting at the head of a table
surrounded by "yes" men.
"Since the fall of the regime, we have been waiting for this trial," said
Aqeel al-Ubaidi, a resident of Dujail. "The trial won't bring back those who
died, but at least it will help put out the fire and anger inside us."
Wednesday's session, held under tight security, was testy from the start,
when the judge asked Saddam to take the stand first.
As the courtroom fell silent, Saddam got up from his chair and took the
podium, holding a copy of the Quran. He refused to state his name for the record
and turned the question back on the presiding judge, Rizgar Mohammed Amin, a
Kurd whose identity was revealed to the public only on the day of the trial.
"Who are you? I want to know who you are," Saddam demanded.
"I do not respond to this so-called court, with all due respect to its
people, and I retain my constitutional right as the president of Iraq," he said,
brushing off Amin's attempts to interrupt him. "Neither do I recognize the body
that has designated and authorized you, nor the aggression because all that has
been built on false basis is false."
After repeatedly refusing to give his name, Saddam finally sat. Amin read his
name for him, calling him the "former president of Iraq."
"I said I'm the president of Iraq," Saddam snapped back. "I did not say
deposed."
Later, Saddam stood, smiling, and exchanged greetings with other defendants
during a break in the proceedings. He then asked to step out of the room, but
when two guards tried to grab his arms to escort him out, he angrily shook them
off.
The guards, wearing blue bulletproof vests, tried to grab him again, and
Saddam struggled to free himself. Saddam and the guards shoved each other and
yelled for about a minute. In the end, he was allowed to walk independently out
of the room, with the two guards behind him.
The three-hour session ended with Amin announcing an
adjournment until Nov. 28.
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