 Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on Wednesday accepted sole responsibility for destroying orchards in Dujail as a reprisal for a failed assassination bid in the town in 1982.
In the last few minutes of the day’s proceedings in his trial, which has now been adjourned till March 12, Saddam said: “I signed the order” for destroying the orchards. “I am Saddam Hussein. At the time I was in charge. It is not my habit to pass the buck on to others.”
Explaining the reason for ordering the destruction of the orchards Saddam said: “It’s the right of the Iraqi state to nationalise any land for the public interest by paying a symbolic compensation. I changed the law to substantial compensation.” He also said that he escaped an assassination bid in the village. “I came under machine gun fire from 50 metres away”, he said, speaking of the ambush on his motorcade. “Bullets passed in front of my eyes. It’s Allah who wanted to save me,” he added.
| He was saving you for the hangman. |
|