Saddam's half-brother testifies at trial
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-15 18:53

Reading from a statement, Ibrahim said Saddam's regime had a right to respond after the Iraqi leader came under attack "from a group supported by Iran at a time when Iraq was at war with Iran," a reference to the Tehran-backed Shiite Dawa Party that carried out the shooting.

He praised Saddam, saying he "served this country for 25 years and achieved historic accomplishments."

Ibrahim also complained that he was badly treated after his arrest by U.S. forces in April 2003. He also said he has asked for the past two years for medical tests "but no one has listened to me."

Ibrahim has made such statements previously in court but the testimony is the first opportunity for the judge and prosecutors to directly question him. Earlier this week, six other defendants went through similar questioning, one by one, and all insisted on their innocence.

One of the defendants, Awad al-Bandar 锟斤拷 the former chief judge of the Revolutionary Court 锟斤拷 admitted on Monday that he sentenced the 148 Shiites to death but maintained they received a fair trial and had confessed to trying to assassinate the former Iraqi leader.

His comments echoed those of Saddam in an earlier session. Last month, Saddam admitted in court that he ordered the 148 Shiites put on trial before his Revolutionary Court, but said it was his right to do so because they were suspected of trying to kill him.

Prosecutors are trying to show Saddam's regime sought to punish the town's civilian population. Hundreds of people were arrested 锟斤拷 including entire families, with women and young children 锟斤拷 and detained for years.

They argue the Revolutionary Court trial was "imaginary," with no chance of defense, and have produced documents showing 10 juveniles 锟斤拷 including some as young as 11 and 13 锟斤拷 were among those sentenced to death.