January 14, 2006

THE showpiece trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been thrown into turmoil by the resignation of the chief judge amid claims of political interference.

Senior court officials were last night trying to talk Kurdish judge Rizgar Amin out of his decision. He said he was reluctant to preside over the trial because Shiite leaders had criticised him for being "soft" on Saddam in court.

A court source said: "He tendered his resignation to the court a few days ago but the court rejected it. Now talks are under way to convince him to go back on his decision. He's under a lot of pressure; the whole court is under political pressure.

"He had complaints from the government that he was being too soft in dealing with Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants."

Technically, the departure of the leading magistrate on the five-judge panel can be overcome by appointing a substitute. However, Amin's complaints about government interference may now affect the credibility of the trial.

The Iraqi court system had already been shaken by the killing of two defence lawyers amid a virtual civil war that pits Saddam's fellow minority Sunni Arabs against a US-sponsored government run by Shiite Muslims and ethnic Kurds.

The crisis comes amid attempts by international human rights lawyers to persuade US officials and the new Iraqi government to send Saddam and his aides to an international court abroad. The defence has already branded the proceedings "victors' justice" imposed under occupation.