WRAP Judge explains Saddam's absence on court, witness account

Описание: (7 Dec 2005)

1. Wide of exterior of court
2. Wide of defendants, Saddam Hussein is missing from his chair
3. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Rizgar Mohammed Amin, Chief Judge:
"The court will proceed and the defendant (Saddam Hussein) will be briefed about what has happened during his absence, according to article 159 regulating the proceedings of this court."
4. Mid shot of defendants (soundbite continues)
5. Mid shot of Amin
6. Cutaway of defendants
7. Mid shot of Amin ++ upsound begins ++
8. UPSOUND: (Arabic) Witness speaking behind curtain, name not released:
"We were standing for more than one hour on one foot, anyone who tried to put his second foot down was shouted at. I was put in a cell with red walls and its lighting was really disturbing, handcuffed, I was left alone but I wanted to to drink water because it was very hot."
9. Cutaway curtain (upsound continues)
10. Pan across defendants to Barazan Ibrahim, Saddam's half brother and co-defendant (upsound continues)
11. Pan of defendants including Barazan ++ upsound begins ++
12. UPSOUND: (Arabic) Distorted voice of witness speaking behind curtain, name not released:
"They took me to the (intelligence) headquarters, as soon as we entered the building, I could hear people screaming from pain."
13. Curtain (upsound continues)
14. UPSOUND: Distorted voice of witness speaking behind curtain, name not released:
"We were kept handcuffed for five days with little food and very hot water. They used to take some persons and bring them back naked. The signs of torture were clear on their bodies."
15. Various of defendants (upsound continues)
16. Rizgar Mohammed Amin (upsound continues)
17. Former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark (upsound continues)
18. Defendant (upsound continues)
19. Mid shot of two judges
20. Curtain, ++ upsound begins ++
21. UPSOUND: (Arabic) Distorted voice of witness speaking behind curtain, name not released:
"When my turn came, the investigator asked me my name and he turned to Barazan (Ibrahim, Saddam's half brother and co-defendant) and asked him `what we shall do with him?' Barazan replied: `Take him. He might be useful'".
22. Close up of defendant, (upsound continues)
23. Mid shot of defendants

STORYLINE:

The trial of Saddam Hussein and his seven co-defendants continued on Wednesday in Baghdad's Green Zone after lengthy delays, and without the former Iraqi president.

After delays and a truncated session, the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants was adjourned on Wednesday until December 21.

After hearing from one witnesses - and without Saddam Hussein in attendance - Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin adjourned the proceedings and said the court would convene again after the national elections late next week.

During the shortened session, the judges heard from a witness who linked Saddam's half brother to the crimes with which all seven defendants are charged.

Saddam declared that he would not take part in an "unjust" court and refused to attend.

The other defendants and Saddam's lawyers were present in the courtroom when Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin convened the session four hours later than scheduled.

Amin said the court would inform Saddam about or brief him on the proceedings that took place during his absence.

At the end of Tuesday's session, an angry Saddam said he would boycott the next day's proceedings after complaining he and his co-defendants had been mistreated.

After the session convened, a male witness testified behind a beige curtain to conceal his identity.











Saddam accused Iran of ordering the attempt on his life.

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