Saddam’s lawyers talk to judges, no sign of Saddam

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Defense lawyers and the judges in
Saddam Hussein’s trial held closed talks in chambers ahead of
Wednesday’s hearing but Saddam himself was not present.

No specifics were provided on what was being discussed in
the closed, out-of-court session, visible but not audible to
reporters in the gallery. At the end of Tuesday’s hearing
Saddam told the judges to “go to hell” and appeared to threaten
a boycott, saying he would not attend an “unfair trial.”

A court official said merely that procedural issues needed
to be worked out and said that if they were resolved then the
trial would resume later on Wednesday with an open session.

In previous sessions, defense lawyers have entered the
court shortly before Saddam and his co-defendants, and there
have not been procedural discussions.