Well, that was quick... (Updated)
I think I may have lost the office pool on how quickly the defence would pull another stunt to delay Saddam Hussein's trial:
Saddam's Defense Team Walks Out of Court
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Saddam Hussein's defense team walked out of the courtroom Monday shortly after the former leader's trial resumed because the judge refused to allow former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark to challenge the tribunal's legitimacy in an address to the court.
Yes, that's right - we have world renowned terrorist supporter Ramsey Clark to thank. Frankly, I wish the press would dump the "former U.S. Attorney General" handle. It gives the impression that he's acting as an American, and I think his actions are about as anti-American as it gets.
The trial is supposed to continue with appointed lawyers, though:
Clark said he needed only two minutes to present his argument. But Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin said the tribunal had been established under the law by an elected Iraqi government and that only Saddam's chief lawyer could address the hearing.
Amin said the defense should submit its motion in writing and warned that if the defense walked out then the court would appoint replacement lawyers.
We'll see. The way this has gone so far, I expect a full week's worth of testimony to be completed by June.
Update: From Al-Reuter's version of the story:
In theory, if Saddam's lawyers do not return, the court can appoint its own lawyers to defend him, a move that would likely anger the former president even more.
Well. We wouldn't want to make him mad now, would we? Additionally, it appears that Terrorist Supporter Ramsey Clarke was the architect of today's walk-out stunt:
"I just need two minutes," Clark stood up and told judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin sternly. "If I don't get two minutes we will walk out," the 77-year-old said in his southern drawl.
Moments later, as the court erupted into shouting, Clark looked at Saddam's chief lawyer, Iraqi Khalil al-Dulaimi, and said: "Let's walk out."
Update 2: The AP story linked above has completely changed to this:
Court Reverses Ruling in Saddam Trial
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The court in the Saddam Hussein trial allowed former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark and another foreign defense lawyer to address the session Monday, reversing a ruling that had led the defense to walk out.
After a 90-minute recess, Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin allowed Clark and ex-Qatari Justice Minister Najib al-Nueimi to speak on the questions of the legitimacy of the tribunal and safety of the lawyers.
"Reconciliation is essential," Clark told the court. "This trial can divide or heal. Unless it is seen as absolutely fair, and fair in fact, it will divide rather than reconcile Iraq."
At that point the judge reminded Clark that he was to speak only about the security guarantees for the defense lawyers — two of whom have been assassinated since the trial began Oct. 19.
Clark then said all parties were entitled to protection and the measures offered to protect the defense and their families were "absurd." Clark said that without such protection, the judicial system would collapse.
Al-Nueimi then spoke about the legitimacy issue, arguing that court is not independent and was in fact set up under the U.S.-led occupation rather than by a legal Iraqi government. He said the language of the statute was unchanged from that promulgated by the former top U.S. administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, and was therefore "illegitimate."
If you don't like the way the trial is going, wait a few minutes...
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