BAGHDAD - Less than 24 hours before the resumption of the trial of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on charges of crimes against humanity, the court on Monday appointed a new interim chief judge. Rauf Rashid Abdel Rahman, a member of the five-strong panel trying Saddam, will take over from Rizkar Mohammed Amin who resigned earlier this month, the court’s investigating judge Raed Al-Juhi told AFP.Rahman was born in Halabja, the Kurdish town which became a symbol of repression in 1988 when Saddam’s forces used chemical weapons against its inhabitants, killing several thousand people. “He will remain as presiding judge until such a time as an official decision is taken on whether to accept judge Rizkar’s resignation,” Juhi added.
| From Halabja, eh? I like it. |
Amin, also a Kurd, who stepped down following strong criticism of his running of the court, said he would not go back on his decision despite efforts by colleagues to change his mind. “I have no intention of going back on my decision,” a close associate quoted him as saying on Monday.
| "I'm outta here!" |
It was initially believed that the next most senior member of the panel, Said al-Hammashi, would take over as presiding judge. But Hammashi, a Shia, has himself been criticised by the commission set up to root out members of SaddamÂ’s former ruling Baath party from official positions. The committee last week claimed Hammashi was former active member of the Baath party and should not preside over the trial.
| He should be in the defense docket. |