BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's High Tribunal convicted three Saddam Hussein co-defendants of murder and torture on Sunday and sentenced them to up to 15 years in prison. A fourth defendant was acquitted for lack of evidence.

Saddam and seven co-defendants were charged with crimes against humanity in the 1982 killings of 148 people in the town of Dujail after a failed assassination attempt on the former leader. If convicted, Saddam could face death by hanging.

The judge presiding over the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven others on charges of crimes against humanity ejected former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark, part of an international defence team, from the court.