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.
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