By Country / Iraq
Prosecutor Demands Death Penalty For Hussein
June 19, 2006
Saddam Hussein laughs while listening to testimony given by a defense witness (file photo) (epa)
Hussein and seven other defendants are on trial for crimes against humanity related to the execution of 148 Shi'ite civilians in the town of Al-Dujayl in 1982.
The chief prosecutor, Ja'far al-Musawi, cast doubt on the claim that the killings were prompted by an assassination attempt against Hussein in Al-Dujayl.
Summing up the prosecution's final arguments, al-Musawi also asked that charges against one of the seven defendants, Muhammad Azzam al-Azzawi, be dropped and that he be released. Al-Azzawi was a low-ranking official of Hussein's Ba'ath Party in Al-Dujayl.
The trial was adjourned until July 10.
(AFP, Reuters, AP)