Prosecutors: Saddam OK'd Shiite executions
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-28 21:50

Abdel-Rahman has adopted a no-nonsense style in the court since taking over the trial in early January, replacing a previous chief judge who was criticized as being too lenient toward Saddam and Ibrahim's frequent outbursts.

Abdel-Rahman did not hesitate to throw out defendants who shouted in the courtroom — and even proceeded with the trial in several sessions in January that the eight defendants refused to attend.

Saddam, Ibrahim and the other defendants were forced to attend the past two sessions. Ibrahim attended wearing only his long underwear in protest, and Saddam, Ibrahim and two other defendants announced at the Feb. 14 session that they were on a hunger strike.

"We are not against the judge as a person. He is an Iraqi citizen and we respect all Iraqis," al-Obeidi said. "Our problem is with the judge's behavior. Things will change when he changes his behavior."

The court also rejected a defense motion asking for the postponement of Tuesday's session because of a wave of sectarian violence the past week sparked by the bombing of a holy Shiite shrine in the central city of Samarra.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that more than 1,300 Iraqis had been killed since the shrine attack.