Saddam trial to start with closed session-court source

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The trial of Saddam Hussein will start
on Wednesday with a closed session, after it was delayed due to
“procedural issues,” a courtroom source told Reuters.

The unexpected move came after Saddam’s chief lawyer said
his team would not attend any sessions until the new chief
judge, Raouf Abdel Rahman, resigns, accusing him of bias.

The courtroom source, who declined to be identified, said
the closed session, due to begin shortly, would last for about
30 minutes, after which the judge would open proceedings. The
reason for the closed session was not immediately clear.