Fiery Saddam appears in court after boycott

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Saddam Hussein appeared in court for his trial on Monday saying he was forced to attend and immediately relaunched tirades that have dominated proceedings, a Reuters witness said.

The toppled leader, who staged a boycott, refused an offer of new court-appointed lawyers to replace his defense team, which is still staging a boycott.

He appeared with his seven co-accused.

"This is not a court, this is a game," said Saddam, who still calls himself the president of Iraq.

Saddam and his half-brother and former intelligence chief Barzan al-Tikriti began interrupting chief judge Raouf Abdel Rahman shortly after proceedings began.

Chief prosecutor Ja’afar Moussawi signaled on Sunday that the court had lost patience with Saddam and his co-defendants, who include former top aides.

Moussawi said they would be forced to attend if they refuse.

"I was forced into the courtroom. Exercise your right and sentence me in absentia," Saddam told the judge.

"Shame on you Raouf. You are neither Raouf nor Abdel Rahman."

Saddam, wearing a coat over a blue traditional robe, stared down the judge, holding a copy of the Koran, the Muslim holy book, in his hand.

Wearing what appeared to be white underclothes and brown trousers, Barzan stood up and screamed at the judge, his face red with anger.

Barzan, who says he has cancer, demanded that he be released in order to get treatment.

At one point, after the judge refused to let Barzan speak, he left his chair and sat down on the ground with his back toward the judge and faced the press gallery.