Saddam's Defense Team Alleges Intimidation

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein attends the resumption of his trial in the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Monday June 5, 2006. Saddam and seven co-defendants are currently on trial for the killings of more than 140 Shiites following a 1982 assassination attempt against him in the town of Dujail _ the first of what Iraqi authorities say could be up to a dozen proceedings. (AP Photo/Erik de Castro, Pool) (Erik De Castro - AP)

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The chief judge in Saddam Hussein's trial said Monday four defense witnesses have been jailed on suspicion of perjury, drawing accusations from defense lawyers that the court was trying to intimidate witnesses.

The defense lawyers said Iraqi soldiers beat several of the witnesses during their arrest May 31.

Three of the witnesses testified last week that some of the 148 Shiites that Saddam and his seven co-defendants are accused of killing were still alive, defense lawyer Najib al-Nueimi told The Associated Press. The fourth told the court that chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi tried to bribe him to make up testimony against Saddam.

"The court was surprised because it didn't expect the truth to be revealed this way," Saddam's top lawyer, Khalil al-Dulaimi said. The arrests, he said, "are a clear message to the defense witnesses and lawyers."

When lawyers complained at Monday's session about the arrests and beating, chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman retorted, "They committed perjury. Should I reward them?"

He said he had ordered them held for investigation.

The allegations revived defense claims that the trial of Saddam and seven former members of his regime is unfair. The arrests came as the defense was trying to press its most aggressive argument yet: that the prosecution invented large parts of its case using false documents and perjured witnesses.

The defendants are accused of crimes against humanity in a sweep against the town of Dujail, including torturing prisoners and killing 148 Shiites sentenced to death for a 1982 assassination attempt against Saddam.

The prosecution has said all 148 were either executed or tortured to death.

On Monday, defense lawyer Wadud Fawzi read a list of 15 names from the 148 who he said were still alive, died natural deaths later, or were killed in the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

"There are basic mistakes in the prosecution's case," Fawzi said. "We contest the authenticity of documents presented in this court and demand the court be halted to investigate."

Abdel-Rahman ordered the defense to provide documents proving their claims and argued with Fawzi, saying, "All these demands are not helping your clients."