New Melodrama in Saddam's Trial

Not really surprised that Saddam's lawyers pulled out nor that the catalyst was Clark

The defence team in the trial of Saddam Hussein has walked out of court in protest at the legitimacy of the proceedings.

The lawyers left the court in Baghdad after the chief judge refused to allow Ramsey Clark, the former US Attorney General and member of the defence team, to challenge the legitimacy of the trial.

Mr Clark said he only needed two minutes to present his argument to the court, but Rizgar Mohammed Amin, the chief judge, said the tribunal had been established under the law by an elected Iraqi government and that only Saddam's chief lawyer could address the hearing.

Mr Amin told the defence it should submit its motion and writing and warned that the court would appoint replacement lawyers if the defence team walked out.

Clark challenges the legitimacy of the trial. Wonder if anyone has challenged the legitimacy of his even being there. I would love to know that he thinks is a valid excuse to challenge the legitimacy of the trial though.

International observers have raised concerns about the court, which operates under a mix of Iraq's criminal code, some international statutes and others written specifically for the tribunal, which was originally formed under US occupation.

They are also worried about the amount of time the defence has had to prepare for a complex case involving allegations of crimes against humanity connected to the deaths of 148 men after an attempt on Saddam's life in Dujail in 1982.

International observers can raise all the concerns that they want, but it doesn't invalidate the right of the people of Iraq to bring Saddam to trial and then punish him. If international courts want a whack at prosecution, go right ahead, but it shouldn't stop or delay the Iraqi prosecution.