Baghdad, 17 Oct. (AKI) - The al-Qaeda in Iraq terror group has issued death threats against any residents from the Shiite town of al-Dujail, to the north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, who intend to testify against Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi newspaper al-Mada reports that a flyer signed by the terror group, which is led by the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was found on Wednesday morning inside the town's court.
The leaflet is addressed: "To the inhabitants of al-Dujail and to anyone who intends to testify in the trial of the president Saddam Hussein." It warns them that "they will receive what they do not want, and not only them, but also their families, so beware."
Saddam Hussein and his seven co-defendents are being tried for crimes carried out by government security forces in al-Dujail, in which more than 140 Shiites were killed in retaliation for an assassination attempt on Saddam Hussein as his motorcade passed through the town. If convicted on this first charge, the former dictator could face death by hanging and never be tried for the many other crimes he is accused of, which include the gassing of some 5,000 Kurds in Halabja in northern Iraq.
The second hearing in Saddam's trial is to be held in Baghdad on November 28 and several residents of the area are due to be called on to give evidence on the deaths of the 143 men. However, lawyers defending the deposed leader and officials from his Baath party, say they will boycott the hearing in protest at the lack of protection they have been given and the killings of two of their team after the first hearing in October. |