Saddam Hussein's former intelligence chief was dragged out of court and manhandled by guards after arguing with the judge Monday, and an American lawyer blasted the trial, saying unfair treatment was putting the defence at a "serious disadvantage.'' Chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman ordered Barzan Ibrahim removed after he accused the court of "terrorizing'' the defence. Iraqi guards grabbed Ibrahim by the arms and pulled him out, and when he tried to shrug them off, they held his left arm and pushed him into a wall as they tried to hustle him out the door, causing an uproar among the defence lawyers."This is dictatorial,'' Ibrahim shouted as he was pulled out. "You know dictatorship,'' Abdel-Rahman sneered.
"They are beating him in front of your eyes. Right at the door,'' defence lawyer Mohammed Munib shouted to the judge. "How can we ask you to protect the defendant when they beat him right in front of you?''
Abdel-Rahman banged his gavel and lectured the defence to be quiet. After the uproar, Saddam stood and sarcastically suggested the defence and defendants leave "if this will bring you calm and quiet and give you the opportunity to reach your verdicts. ... If my presence bothers you then I can withdraw and ask the defence team to withdraw as well.''
"You are before the world, which sees through this place, whether they hear from the so-called defendants or defence or the attackers,'' he said, referring to the prosecution. "People, Iraq's money is being stolen. Bloodshed is taking place every day, four times as much bloodshed in Dujail -- I mean those who were sentenced to death.''