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

Saddam's chief lawyer, Khaled al-Dulaimi, said he would appeal and asked that Tuesday's session be halted immediately, a request Abdel-Rahman refused. Al-Dulaimi and al-Obeidi left the court to prepare an appeal, but the remaining six members of the defense team remained.

Ibrahim stood and argued briefly with Abdel-Rahman, who repeatedly ordered him to sit down.

The defense walkout threatened the perception of fairness in the tribunal, a key issue in a trial that Iraqi and U.S. officials said would be a landmark in political progress for a country sharply torn between Sunnis and Shiites.

The defense stormed out of court Jan. 29 after Abdel-Rahman tossed out one of the lawyers for shouting. The defense then said it would boycott the trial unless Abdel-Rahman were removed, accusing him of bias against Saddam. Court-appointed lawyers sat in during sessions over the past month.