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THE TALK SHOW AMERICAN: New Video of Saddam's Questioning Released...

Monday, June 13, 2005

New Video of Saddam's Questioning Released...

New film has been released showing former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein being questioned by magistrates.
The ousted leader, who is due to face trial on charges of crimes against humanity, wore a dark suit with an open-necked shirt.

There was no indication of where he was when the film was made.

Last week his lawyers complained that Saddam Hussein had been allowed only two meetings with them since being arrested in Iraq in December 2003.

The new footage, released by Iraq's Special Tribunal, the body charged with staging the trial, is believed to be the first time he has been seen in front of magistrates since appearing in court in July last year.

The former leader's well-groomed appearance is in marked contrast to recent pictures, published by a British tabloid newspaper, showing the former president of Iraq dressed only in his underpants.

Killings probed

In the film, which was released without sound, two men believed to be Iraqi magistrates are seen questioning Saddam Hussein.

The former Iraqi leader, who is accused of ordering a string of massacres and murders during his rule, looks pensive as he answers questions.

He can be seen stroking his neatly-trimmed, grey-flecked beard.

The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Baghdad says the video portrays Saddam Hussein in a respectful way, but that he does not appear to be as in control of the situation as he did when he appeared in court last year.

Iraq's Special Tribunal also said that a judge had questioned Saddam Hussein over the killings of dozens of men in the village of Dujail, 40 miles (60km) north of Baghdad, the Reuters news agency reported.

Troops and helicopters attacked the Shia village in 1982 after an assassination attempt failed.

The tribunal is said to be keen to put Saddam Hussein on trial within the next few months, ahead of elections in Iraq.

However, no complete list of charges has yet been compiled, and some observers think the trial could be delayed until next year.

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