Saddam genocide trial resumes as prosecution continues to present case News
Saddam genocide trial resumes as prosecution continues to present case

[JURIST] Saddam Hussein's genocide trial [JURIST report; BBC timeline] resumed Monday at the Iraqi High Tribunal [official website] in Baghdad with the prosecution presenting documentary evidence they say links Hussein to chemical weapons used during the 1987-88 "Anfal" campaigns [HRW backgrounder] against ethnic Kurds in Northern Iraq. Prosecutors introduced a memorandum from Hussein's office ordering the Iraqi military to initiate a strike against Kurdish separatists using "special ammunition." Hussein and six co-defendants all face crimes against humanity charges for the Anfal attacks, and Hussein and co-defendant Ali Hassan al-Majid [BBC profile], known as "Chemical Ali," also face additional genocide charges [JURIST report].

Meanwhile, Hussein faces the death penalty after being convicted [judgment; JURIST report] on separate crimes against humanity charges relating to a crackdown in the Iraqi town of Dujail. That verdict is currently on appeal, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday that he hoped the appeal panel's ruling would be handed down in a few days and that Hussein would be executed next month [JURIST report]. AFP has more.